EC 2.11 Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory of Development: Definition & Examples

macrosystem

encompasses the cultural environment in which the person lives and all other systems that affect them. Examples could include the economy, cultural values, and political systems. The macrosystem can have either a positive or a negative effect on a person's development. For an example, consider the different effects on the development of a child growing up in a third-world economy versus that of the United States.

exosystem

refers to a setting that does not involve the person as an active participant, but still affects them. This includes decisions that have bearing on the person, but in which they have no participation in the decision-making process. An example would be a child being affected by a parent receiving a promotion at work or losing their job.

ecological systems theory

Urie Bronfenbrenner. a person's development was affected by everything in their surrounding environment. He divided the person's environment into five different levels: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the chronosystem.

mesosystem

consists of the interactions between the different parts of a person's microsystem. The mesosystem is where a person's individual microsystems do not function independently, but are interconnected and assert influence upon one another. These interactions have an indirect impact on the individual. One example would be the relationship between parents and teacher. Parents take an active role in school, such as attending parent/teacher conferences and volunteering in the classroom. This has a positive impact on development because the different elements of the microsystem are working together.

chronosystem

the dimension of time in relation to a person's development. Time can be relevant in different ways. One way time can be an influence is the timing of an event during a person's development. For example, the death of a parent would affect a three-year-old differently than a teenager. Time can also be an influence because of historical events or conditions that exist during a person's life. An example would be the effects of growing up during the Great Depression or during World War II.

microsystem

the system closest to the person and the one in which they have direct contact. Some examples would be home, school, daycare, or work. A microsystem typically includes family, peers, or caregivers. Relationships in a microsystem are bi-directional. In other words, your reactions to the people in your microsystem will affect how they treat you in return. This is the most influential level of the ecological systems theory.