“BRONFENBRENNER’S ECOLOGICAL

THEORY”

CHAPTER 10
• URIE
BRONFENBRENNER

Was a Russian born

American developmental
psychologist who is most
known for his ecological
systems theory of child
development .
 He came up with a simple yet useful paradigm showing the
different factors that exert influence on an individual’s
development. It points out the ever widening spheres of
influence that shape every individual, from his/her immediate
family to the neighborhood , the country, even the world!

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BRONFENBRENNER’S ECOLOGICAL
THEORY
MICROSYSTEM
 It is the layer nearest the child. It
comprises structures such as one’s
family, school, and neighborhood. As
such, the microsystem covers the
most basic relationships and
interactions that a child has in his/her
immediate environment.

 In this layer, relationship effects

happen in two directions – Both
away from the child and toward the
child.
MESOSYSTEM
 This layer serves as the connection
between the structures of the child’s
microsystem.

 For example, the mesosystem will

include the link or interaction between
the parents and teachers, or the parent
and health services or the community and
the church.

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 EXOSYSTEM

 This layer refers to the bigger

social system in which the child
does not function directly. This
includes the city government, the
workplace, and the mass media.
The structures in this layer may
influence the child’s development
by somewhere affecting some
structure in the child’s
microsystem.

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 MACROSYSTE
M
 This layer is found in the outermost
part in the child’s environment. The
macrosystem includes the cultural,
values, customs, and laws.

 The belief system contained in one’s

macrosystem permeates all the
interactions in the other layers and
reaches the individual.

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CHRONOSYSTEM

 The chronosystem covers the

elements of time as it relates to
a child’s environment.
 This involves “patterns of
stability and change” in the
child’s life.
 This involves whether the
child’s day is characterized by
an orderly predictable pattern,
or whether the child is
subjected to sudden changes in
routine.
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THANK YOU!
Christian Clyde C. Cloma
Reporter