The Ecological

Perspective
Ecosystems Theory:

- Systems theory used to describe and analyze

people and other living systems and their
transactions (Beckett & Johnson, 1995)
Theory:
- A coherent group of principles, concepts, and
ideas organized to explain some observable
occurrence or trend.
Model:
- A description or representation to help visualize a
process or thing that exists.
- A guide for how to view and assess situations
Theoretical Underpinning:
- Are theoretical foundations for any particular way
of thinking.
• Ecological theories focus on interrelated
transaction between systems, and stress that all
existing elements within an ecosystem play an
equal role in maintaining balance of the whole.

• Applying an ecological approach can be best

understood as looking at persons, families,
cultures, communities, and policies to identify
and intervene upon strengths and weakness in
the transactional process between these systems.
• Ecological theories focus on interrelated
transaction between systems, and stress that all
existing elements within an ecosystem play an
equal role in maintaining balance of the whole.

• Applying an ecological approach can be best

understood as looking at persons, families,
cultures, communities, and policies to identify
and intervene upon strengths and weakness in
the transactional process between these systems.
Four levels of ecological components:

• Microsystem:
- Most basic system
- An individual’s most immediate
environment

i.e., the effects of personality characteristics on

other family members
• Mesosystem:
- A more generalized system
- The interactional processes between
multiple microsystems

i.e., effects of spousal relationships on parent-

child interactions
• Exosystem:
- A more generalized level which affect
indirectly family interactions on the micro
and meso levels

i.e., the effects of parent’s employment on

family interactions
• Macrosystem:
- The most generalized forces affecting
individuals and family functioning

i.e., political, cultural, economical, social

• The ecological approach provides strategies
that allow the social worker to move from a
micro level of intervention to a macro level of
social treatment.