Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory
By Olivia Guy-Evans, published Nov 09, 2020
by Saul Mcleod, PhD
Key Takeaways
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory viewschild development as a complex system of relationships affected by multiple levels of the surrounding environment, from immediate settings of family and school to broad cultural values, laws, and customs.
- To study a child's development then, we must look not only at the child and her immediate environment, but also at the interaction of the larger environment as well.
- Bronfenbrenner divided the person's environment into five different systems: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the chronosystemm.
- The microsystem is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory. This is the most immediate environmental settings containing the developing child, such as family and school.
- Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory has implications for educational practice.
Background and History
American psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner was critical of previous theories of child development. He argued that studies of children in unfamiliar laboratory environments with one other person, usually a stranger, were ecologically invalid (See Mary Ainsworth’s 1970 experiment of the ‘Strange Situation’).
Bronfenbrenner (1974) claimed most earlier studies were ‘unidirectional’, meaning that the laboratory studies observed the influence of A on B (e.g. a stranger/mother with a child), rather than looking at the possible influence of the child on the stranger/mother, or any other third party’s influence.
Bronfenbrenner maintained that these laboratory features of research are not characteristic of environments that children actually live and develop in.
Bronfenbrenner recognized there are multiple aspects of a developing child’s life that interacts with and affects the child. His work looked beyond individual development, taking into account wider influencing factors and the context (or ecology) of development. He proposed the ‘Ecological Systems Theory’ based on these dynamic interactions that the environments have on the developing child.
Bronfenbrenner’s (1974) perspective has some resemblance to the works of Albert Bandua’s social learning theory and Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory in which the environment is explicitly or implicitly considered as a crucial mechanism in development.
The Five Ecological Systems
The Five Ecological Systems
Bronfenbrenner (1977) suggested that the environment of the child is a nested arrangement of structures, each contained within the next. He organized them in order of how much of an impact they have on a child.
He named these structures the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem and the chronosystem.
Because the five systems are interrelated, the influence of one system on a child’s development depends on its relationship with the others.
The Microsystem
The microsystem is the first level of Bronfenbrenner's theory, and are the things that have direct contact with the child in theirimmediate environment, such as parents, siblings, teachers and school peers.
Relationships in a microsystem are bi-directional, meaning the child can be influenced by other people in their environment and is also capable of changing the beliefs and actions of other people too.
Furthermore, the reactions of the child to individuals in their microsystem can influence how they treat them in return.
The interactions within microsystems are often very personal and are crucial for fostering and supporting the child’s development.
If a child has a strong nurturing relationship with their parents, this is said to have a positive effect on the child. Whereas, distant and unaffectionate parents will have a negative effect on the child.
The Mesosystem
The mesosystem encompasses the interactions between the child’s microsystems, such as the interactions between the child’s parents and teachers, or between school peers and siblings.
The mesosystem is where a person's individual microsystems do not function independently, but are interconnected and assert influence upon one another.
For instance, if a child’s parents communicate with the child’s teachers, this interaction may influence the child’s development. Essentially, a mesosystem is a system of microsystems.
According to the ecological systems theory, if the child’s parents and teachers get along and have a good relationship, this should have positive effects on the child’s development, compared to negative effects on development if the teachers and parents do not get along.
The Exosystem
The exosystem is a component of the ecological systems theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner in the 1970s. It incorporates other formal and informal social structures, which do not themselves contain the child, but indirectly influence them as they affect one of the microsystems.
Examples of exosystems include the neighborhood, parent’s workplaces, parent’s friends and the mass media. These are environments in which the child is not involved, and are external to their experience, but nonetheless affects them anyway.
An instance of exosystems affecting the child’s development could be if one of the parents had a dispute with their boss at work.
The parent may come home and have a short temper with the child as a result of something which happened in the workplace, resulting in a negative effect on development.
The Macrosystem
The macrosystem is a component of Bronfenbrenner'secological systems theory that focuses on how cultural elements affect a child's development, such as socioeconomic status, wealth, poverty, and ethnicity.
Thus, culture that individuals are immersed within may influence their beliefs and perceptions about events that transpire in life.
The macrosystem differs from the previous ecosystems as is does not refer to the specific environments of one developing child, but the already established society and culture which the child is developing in.
This can also include the socioeconomic status, ethnicity, geographic location and ideologies of the culture.
For example, a child living in a third world country would experience a different development than a child living in a wealthier country.
The Chronosystem
The fifth and final level of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory is known as the chronosystem.
This system consists of all of the environmental changes that occur over the lifetime which influence development,including major life transitions, and historical events.
These can include normal life transitions such as starting school but can also include non-normative life transitions such as parents getting a divorce or having to move to a new house.
The Bioecological Model
The Bioecological Model
It is important to note that Bronfenbrenner (1994) later revised his theory and instead named it the ‘Bioecological model’.
Bronfenbrenner became more concerned with the proximalprocesses of development, meaning the enduring and persistent forms of interaction in the immediate environment. His focus shifted from focusing on environmental influences to developmental processes individuals experience over time.
‘…development takes place through the process of progressively more complex reciprocal interactions between an active, evolving biopsychological human organism and the persons, objects, and symbols in its immediate external environment.’ (Bronfenbrenner, 1995).
Bronfenbrenner also suggested that in order to understand the effect of these proximal processes on development, we have to focus on the person, context and developmental outcome as these processes vary and affect people differently (Bronfenbrenner & Evans, 2000).
Critical Evaluation
Bronfenbrenner’s model quickly became very appealing and became accepted as a useful framework for psychologists, sociologists and teachers to study child development.
The Ecological Systems Theory provides a holistic approach which is inclusive of all the systems children and their family are involved in, accurately reflecting the dynamic nature of actual family relationships (Hayes & O’Toole, 2017).
Paat (2013) considers how Bronfenbrenner’s theory is useful when it comes to the development of immigrant children. They suggest that immigrant children’s experiences in the various ecological systems are likely to be shaped by their cultural differences. An understanding of these children’s ecology can aid in strengthening social work service delivery for these children.
A limitation of the Ecological Systems Theory is that there is limited research examining the mesosystems; mainly the interactions between neighborhoods and the family of the child (Leventhal & Brooks-Gunn, 2000). Therefore, it is unclear the extent to which these systems can shape child development.
Another limitation with Bronfenbrenner’s theory is that it is difficult to empirically test the theory. The studies investigating the ecological systems may establish an effect, but they cannot establish whether the systems are the direct cause of such effects.
Furthermore, this theory can lead to assumptions that those who do not have strong and positive ecological systems lack in development. Whilst this may be true in some cases, many people can still develop into well-rounded individuals without positive influences from their ecological systems.
For instance, it is not true to say that all people who grow up in poverty-striken areas of the world will develop negatively. Similarly, if a child’s teachers and parents do not get along, some children may not experience any kind of negative effect from this if it does not concern them.
As a result, people need to take care not to make broad assumptions about individuals using this theory.
Bronfenbrenner’s theory in the 21st century
Bronfenbrenner’s theory in the 21st century
The world has changed a lot since this theory was introduced in terms of technological developments. However, it could still be said that the exosystem of a child could be expanded to include social media, video gaming and other modern-day interactions within the ecological system.
This could suggest that the ecological systems are still valid but will expand over time to include new modern developments.
Kelly and Coughlan (2019) used constructivist grounded theory analysis to develop a theoretical framework for youth mental health recovery and found that there were many links to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory in their own more recent theory.
Their theory suggested that the components of mental health recovery are embedded in the ‘ecological context of influential relationships’ which fits in with Bronfenbrenner’s theory that the ecological systems of the young person such as peers, family and school all help mental health development.
Classroom Application
Classroom Application
The Ecological Systems Theory has been used to link psychological and educational theory to early educational curriculums and practice. At the center of the theory is the developing child, and all that occurs within and between the five ecological systems are done so to benefit the child in the classroom.
- To strengthen the development between the ecological systems in educational practice according to the theory, teachers and parents should keep good communication with each other and work together to benefit the child.
- Teachers should also be understanding of the situations their student’s families may be experiencing, including social and economic factors that are part of the various systems.
- According to the theory, if parents and teachers have a good relationship, this should shape the child’s development in a positive way.
- Likewise, the child must also be active in their learning, engaged both academically and socially. They must work as a team with their peers and get involved in meaningful learning experiences to enable positive development (Evans, 2012).
Empirical Evidence
There are lots of studies that have investigated the effects of the school environment on students.
Lippard, LA Paro, Rouse and Crosby (2017) conducted a study to test Bronfenbrenner’s theory. They investigated the teacher-child relationships through teacher reports and classroom observations.
They found that these relationships significantly related to children’s academic achievement and classroom behavior, suggesting that these relationships are important for children’s development and supports the Ecological Systems Theory.
Wilson et al., (2002) found that creating a positive school environment, through a school ethos valuing diversity has a positive effect on student’s relationships within school. Incorporating this kind of school ethos influences those within the developing child’s ecological systems.
Langford et al., (2014) found that whole-school approaches to the health curriculum can positively improve educational achievement and student well-being, thus the development of the students are being affected by the microsystems.
About the Author
Olivia Guy-Evans obtained her undergraduate degree in Educational Psychology at Edge Hill University in 2015. She then received her master’s degree in Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol in 2019. Olivia has been working as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities in Bristol for the last four years.
How to reference this article:
How to reference this article:
Guy-Evans, O. (2020, Nov 09). Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/Bronfenbrenner.html
APA Style References
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1974). Developmental research, public policy, and the ecology of childhood. Child development, 45(1), 1-5.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American psychologist, 32(7), 513.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1995). Developmental ecology through space and time: A future perspective.
Bronfenbrenner, U., & Evans, G. W. (2000). Developmental science in the 21st century: Emerging questions, theoretical models, research designs and empirical findings. Social development, 9(1), 115-125.
Bronfenbrenner, U., & Ceci, S. J. (1994). Nature-nurture reconceptualised: A bio-ecological model. Psychological Review, 10(4), 568–586.
Hayes, N., O'Toole, L., & Halpenny, A. M. (2017). Introducing Bronfenbrenner: A guide for practitioners and students in early years education. Taylor & Francis.
Kelly, M., & Coughlan, B. (2019). A theory of youth mental health recovery from a parental perspective. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(2), 161-169.
Langford, R., Bonell, C. P., Jones, H. E., Pouliou, T., Murphy, S. M., Waters, E., Komro, A. A., Gibbs, L. F., Magnus, D. & Campbell, R. (2014). The WHO Health Promoting School framework for improving the health and well‐being of students and their academic achievement. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (4).
Leventhal, T., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2000). The neighborhoods they live in: the effects of neighborhood residence on child and adolescent outcomes. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 309.
Lippard, C. N., La Paro, K. M., Rouse, H. L., & Crosby, D. A. (2018, February). A closer look at teacher–child relationships and classroom emotional context in preschool. In Child & Youth Care Forum 47(1), 1-21.
Paat, Y. F. (2013). Working with immigrant children and their families: An application of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 23(8), 954-966.
Wilson, P., Atkinson, M., Hornby, G., Thompson, M., Cooper, M., Hooper, C. M., & Southall, A. (2002). Young minds in our schools-a guide for teachers and others working in schools. Year: YoungMinds (Jan 2004).
Further Information
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How to reference this article:
Guy-Evans, O. (2020, Nov 09). Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/Bronfenbrenner.html
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FAQs
What is the main idea of Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory? ›
Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory focuses on the quality and context of the child's environment. He states that as a child develops, the interaction within these environments becomes more complex. This complexity can arise as the child's physical and cognitive structures grow and mature.
What are the 5 main points of Bronfenbrenner's theory? ›Bronfenbrenner divided the person's environment into five different systems: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the chronosystemm. The microsystem is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory.
What is ecological systems theory in psychology? ›Ecological Systems Theory is a theory of psychology that posits that an individual's development occurs through complex interactions between an individual and the people, objects, and symbols in that person's surrounding environment.
What are the key concepts of ecological systems theory? ›The Five Environmental Systems. The ecological systems theory holds that we encounter different environments throughout our lifespan that may influence our behavior in varying degrees. These systems include the micro system, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macro system, and the chronosystem.
What is an example of Bronfenbrenner's theory? ›According to Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, if a child's parents are actively involved in the friendships of their child, for example they invite their child's friends over to their house from time to time and spend time with them, then the child's development is affected positively through harmony and like- ...
How do you apply Bronfenbrenner theory in the classroom? ›Bronfenbrenner's Theory in the Classroom - YouTube
What are the 5 levels of the social ecological model? ›The framework typically includes 5 levels of influence: (1) intrapersonal (eg, individual, athlete), (2) interpersonal (eg, athletic trainer [AT], coach, parent, athletic director), (3) organizational (eg, community, school), (4) environmental (eg, cultural norms, physical environment), and (5) policy (eg, state high ...
What are the 3 levels of the ecological model? ›Therefore, for maximum effect when using the ecological model, it is recommended that the whole model be applied at all stages of formative research: development, implementation and evaluation.
What is the ecological systems theory in social work? ›The ecological systems theory in social work
The ecological systems theory—also known as human ecology theory or development in context—examines how individuals' environments shape them into who they are.
Limitations of the Social Ecological Model include:
Lack of motivation for change in the environment. Changing lifestyles can be extremely difficult. Not all diseases can be prevented. Many people are in denial and do not believe they are at risk.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ecological systems theory? ›
| Pros of Ecological Systems Theory | Cons of Ecological Systems Theory |
|---|---|
| 1. It's holistic rather than reductionist. | 1. It is difficult to text empirically. |
| 2. It has a wide range of applications. | 2. Its terms and categoriesare sometimes vague. |
General systems theory developed earlier and became more widespread and strongly influenced US social work and to a lesser degree non-US. Ecological systems theory grew based on systems approaches and had a more limited influence outside of the US.
Who was a major influence in developing Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory? ›Bronfenbrenner has identified Soviet developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky and German-born psychologist Kurt Lewin as important influences on his theory. Bronfenbrenner's work provides one of the foundational elements of the ecological counseling perspective, as espoused by Robert K.
What is meant by ecological system? ›An “ecological system” (ecosystem) is a biological community consisting of all the living organisms (including humans) in a particular area and the nonliving components, such as air, water, and mineral soil, with which the organisms interact.
What is an example of Bronfenbrenner's theory and how it operates in your own life? ›An example of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model would be the relationship between a child's home life and a child's relationship with their friends. If a child is raised in a home where they are neglected and are unloved then he may develop certain characteristics. He may feel as though it is hard to trust people.
Is Bronfenbrenner's theory used today? ›Even though Bronfenbrenner developed his theory to understand human development, it has been extensively applied in many other fields including health research (see e.g. Richard et al. 2011; Grzywacz and Fuqua 2000).
What is a good example of microsystem? ›The Microsystem refers to those most immediate contacts in the child's life. Examples would be the child's family, their nursery or playgroup, their neighbours and their local community.
How important is Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory to you as a student? ›Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) is useful in application to per- sonalized learning because it explains the interactions that students experience that help direct and shape their development and learning.
Why do you think Bronfenbrenner's theory is important to teachers? ›His theory is important for educators to understand because it allows the educator to build fundamental relationships with their students and create a communication rich classroom that involves the parents.
What is the purpose of child development theories? ›Child development theories focus on explaining how children change and grow over the course of childhood. Such theories center on various aspects of development including social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
What are the 4 components of the social-ecological model? ›
CDC uses a four-level social-ecological model to better understand violence and the effect of potential prevention strategies. This model considers the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors.
What is an example of an ecological model? ›Examples of Ecological Models
Project HEART (Health Education Awareness Research Team) used an ecological model to design a health promotion and disease prevention program to address cardiovascular disease risk factors. The project uses a community health worker (CHW) promotora model to provide services.
Along with these integrative practice roles, three concepts have evolved that serve as an organizing theme for the ecological approach; these are the behavioral set- ting, ecosystem, and transaction.
What is Bronfenbrenner's social ecological model? ›Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory is one of the most accepted explanations regarding the influence of social environments on human development. This theory argues that the environment you grow up in affects every facet of your life.
What are the strengths of the ecological model? ›The model allows for there to be integration between behavioral and environmental change. It allows for attention to be given to the interaction between personal and environmental factors. The model also can assist those in need with education of how different factors can play a role in their overall health.
How many factors are ecological approaches? ›There are five stages to this model – Individual, Interpersonal, Organizational, Community, and Public Policy. The individual level is concerned with an individual's knowledge and skills.
What is the system theory and what is its purpose? ›Systems theory seeks to explain and develop hypotheses around characteristics that arise within complex systems that seemingly could not arise in any single system within the whole. This is referred to as emergent behavior.
How do you apply systems theory in social work? ›In systems theory, a social worker must observe and analyze all of the systems that contribute to an individual's behavior and welfare, and work to strengthen those systems. This may take the form of providing positive role models, therapy or other services to help create a more supportive system for the individual.
What are examples of social ecological systems? ›These are economic (such as tourism, increased property values, energy savings), recreational (e.g., bird-watching), and ecological (e.g., seed dispersal, pollination, shade). A wide variety of beneficial ecosystem services include pollution abatement, noise attenuation, and carbon sequestration.
What is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory? ›Ecological systems theory was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. He divided the environment into five different levels. The microsystem is the most influential, has the closest relationship to the person, and is the one where direct contact occurs. The mesosystem consists of interactions between a person's microsystems.
What is ecological theory approach? ›
The ecological approach to visual perception assumes that senses represent evolved adaptations to an organism's environment. These adaptations develop in relation to environmental factors contributing to an organism's survival.
How does Macrosystem affect a child? ›The macrosystem is the largest and most distant collection of people and places to the child that still exercises significant influence on the child (19). It is composed of the child's cultural patterns and values, specifically the child's dominant beliefs and ideas, as well as political and economic systems (4).
What is the problem with Bronfenbrenner's theory? ›Bronfenbrenner's theory virtually describes only the negative effects of how an individual will develop if exposed to adversity and travesty. The theory is lacking as it does not have a way to explain how an individual brought up in a negative environment survives and becomes successful.
In which system of Bronfenbrenner's theory are links between the family and the school important? ›Structures in the microsystem include family, school, neighborhood, or childcare environments. At this level, relationships have impact in two directions -both away from the child and toward the child.
How does the microsystem influence a child's development? ›The microsystem is where the most direct interactions between the child and the environment take place. In other words, the microsystems have a direct influence on the child's development. The child is also able to create the constructs, or conceptual elements, that exist in the microsystem.
What is an example of systems theory? ›The basic idea behind Systems Theory is, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” An easy example of this is baking a cake. If you were to lay out all of the ingredients of a cake, you would not have a cake. Instead, you would have the ingredients of cake.
What are the features of System Theory? ›Characteristics of systems theory
Open system: a system keeps evolving and its properties keep emerging through its interaction with environment. Holistic view: systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and relations between the parts that connect them into a whole.
The system approach has the following merits:
It increases organisation's adaptability to environmental changes. The organisation is studied as a whole and not through its parts. This enables it to adapt to the needs of the environment. Decisions are made keeping in mind organisation-environment interface.
What are Urie Bronfenbrenner's most important ideas? Urie Bronfenbrenner's most important and impactful ideas are that a human's development is shaped by the interaction between an individual and their environment. His first model, the ecological systems theory, focused strongly on childhood development.
What is the essence of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological system into the development of an individual? ›The bioecological theory of development was formulated by Urie Bronfenbrenner and posits that human development is a transactional process in which an individual's development is influenced by his or her interactions with various aspects and spheres of their environment.
How can the ecological systems theory be applied in counseling? ›
An ecological perspective in counseling involves identifying how a client's environment affects his or her well-being and development, and using interventions that move beyond exclusive focus on the individual.
Why is it important to understand ecological systems? ›Why is ecology important? Ecology enriches our world and is crucial for human wellbeing and prosperity. It provides new knowledge of the interdependence between people and nature that is vital for food production, maintaining clean air and water, and sustaining biodiversity in a changing climate.
What is the simple definition of ecology? ›Definition of ecology
1 : a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments. 2 : the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment. 3 : human ecology.
His theory is important for educators to understand because it allows the educator to build fundamental relationships with their students and create a communication rich classroom that involves the parents.
What is the main problem with ecological theory? ›Limitations of the Social Ecological Model include:
Lack of motivation for change in the environment. Changing lifestyles can be extremely difficult. Not all diseases can be prevented. Many people are in denial and do not believe they are at risk.
Even though Bronfenbrenner developed his theory to understand human development, it has been extensively applied in many other fields including health research (see e.g. Richard et al. 2011; Grzywacz and Fuqua 2000).
What is the ecological theory in social work? ›The ecological systems theory—also known as human ecology theory or development in context—examines how individuals' environments shape them into who they are.
How important is Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory to you as a student? ›Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006) is useful in application to per- sonalized learning because it explains the interactions that students experience that help direct and shape their development and learning.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ecological systems theory? ›| Pros of Ecological Systems Theory | Cons of Ecological Systems Theory |
|---|---|
| 1. It's holistic rather than reductionist. | 1. It is difficult to text empirically. |
| 2. It has a wide range of applications. | 2. Its terms and categoriesare sometimes vague. |
Child development theories focus on explaining how children change and grow over the course of childhood. Such theories center on various aspects of development including social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
What is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory? ›
Ecological systems theory was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. He divided the environment into five different levels. The microsystem is the most influential, has the closest relationship to the person, and is the one where direct contact occurs. The mesosystem consists of interactions between a person's microsystems.
What are the strengths of ecological theory? ›A strength of the Ecological Systems Theory is that it demonstrates the importance of the environmental influences that affect individuals and groups. For example, 9/11 had impacts on the mental health of persons who were not directly involved in the attacks as witnesses or family members of the deceased victims.
What is the difference between systems theory and ecological theory? ›General systems theory developed earlier and became more widespread and strongly influenced US social work and to a lesser degree non-US. Ecological systems theory grew based on systems approaches and had a more limited influence outside of the US.
What is the conclusion of Bronfenbrenner's theory? ›To conclude, the ecological theory of development by Urie Bronfenbrenner is applicable in explaining developmental changes in the psyche of a child. Five systems were analyzed regarding their applicability to my background. All of them have found logical approvals to be used generally by therapists and psychologists.
Why is ecological theory important in social work? ›Taking an ecological perspective of social work veritably mandates that the social worker not only helps the individual adapt to their situation but also advocates to change the social and political environment to better support the individual.
What are examples of social ecological systems? ›These are economic (such as tourism, increased property values, energy savings), recreational (e.g., bird-watching), and ecological (e.g., seed dispersal, pollination, shade). A wide variety of beneficial ecosystem services include pollution abatement, noise attenuation, and carbon sequestration.
How can the ecological systems theory be applied in counseling? ›An ecological perspective in counseling involves identifying how a client's environment affects his or her well-being and development, and using interventions that move beyond exclusive focus on the individual.