Unit 2 - Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory Flashcards
What is Bronfenbrenner’s theory called?
Ecological systems theory
What type of approach does Bronfenbrenner have?
Humanist approach
What did Bronfenbrenner theorise?
He argued that children’s development is influenced by a wide range of environmental factors: teachers, parents, community, society and culture
What is the microsystem and what is in it?
Interactions with parents, carers, siblings as single factors immediately affecting the child
Includes home, school, neighbourhood, and immediate family
What is the mesosystem and what is in it?
How systems within the microsystem interact with each other, i.e. teacher meeting with parents
Includes home, schools and neighbourhood
What is the exosystem and what is in it?
External factors which do not directly involve the child but impacts them i.e. parents work/job/social media/etc
Includes parent’s workplace, child’s school, mass media and community services
What is the macrosystem and what is in it?
Socioeconomic status of the family, the availability of resources i.e. money, clothes, geographical location, etc
Includes widely shared cultural values, beliefs, customs and laws
What is the chronosystem and what is in it?
Major life events which impact the child
These can be normative or non-normative, such as moving house, school transitions, new siblings, parental divorce, etc
What does Bronfenbrenner’s theory tell us?
Children’s development is very complex, as different relationships are affected by the environment
What theory is Bronfenbrenner’s theory similar to?
Similar to Bandura’s social learning theory, as they both highlight how the broader environment impacts individual growth
How does Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory link to educational practice?
Creating supportive environments that foster positive relationships and a sense of belonging
What is a criticism of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory?
May not adequately account for the role of individual characteristics, such as temperament or genetic factors, in shaping development
