Urie

Bronfenbrenner
Ecological Systems Theory
Amber Parham
Educ 121 Child and Adolescent Development
May 7, 2015
Dr. Helms

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Developed
Theory in 1979
Ecology is the
branch of biology that
deals with the
relations of
organisms to one
another and to their
physical
surroundings.

Bronfenbrenner argued that in order to

understand human development, one
must consider the entire ecological
system in which growth occurs. This
system is composed of 5 socially
organized subsystems that help support
and guide human growth.
(Gauvain)

Recently, it was determined that a

persons own biology may be
considered apart of the
microsystem. Thus, the theory has
sometimes been called the bioecological systems theory.

Ecological Systems
Theory
Microsystem
Mesosystem
Exosystem
Macrosystem
Chronosystem

Microsyst
em

Consists of the network of

social relationships and the
physical settings in which a
person is involved in daily.

Direct interaction between

an individual among family,
teachers, sports teams,
coworkers, etc.

The ways in which these

groups interact with the child
will impact how the child
grows.

Mesosyst
em
Consists of the
interrelationships among the
various settings in which the
developing person is
immersed.
Describes how the different
parts work together for the
sake of the child; such as the
relationships between home
and school, school and work,
work and home, and so on..
Thus, the mesosystem is a
system of microsystems.

Exosyste
m
Consists of social
structures that
directly or indirectly
affect a persons life:
School, work, media,
government, and
various networks.

Macrosyst
em
Describes the culture in which
individuals live.
Comprised of the all-encompassing
pattern of the microsystem,
mesosystem, and exosystem
characteristics of a given culture or
subculture, with specific beliefs,
resources, customs, lifestyles, and
opportunities that are embedded in
each of these broader systems.
This evolves over time, because
each successive generation may
change the macrosystem, leading
to their development in a unique
macrosystem.

Chronosyst
em
The patterning of
environmental events and
transitions over the life
course, as well as
sociohistorical
circumstances.
Progression of external
systems throughout the
years.
Example: When an individual
gets married, they must
transition into a new lifestyle.

Overall Charts

References
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of
human
development. In International Encyclopedia of
Education, Vol. 3, 2nd Ed. Oxford: Elsevier.
Reprinted in: Gauvain, M. & Cole, M. (Eds.),
Readings of the development of children, 2nd Ed.
(1993, p. 37-43). NY: Freeman.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Nature and
Function of Molar Activities. In The Ecology of
Human
Development: Experiments by Nature
and Design
(p. 53). Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard
University Press.