Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems

Theory

Avatar’s Ecological

Map

The MicrosystemThe microsystem is the innermost layer and contains the relationships and interactions a child has with his/her immediate environment (Berk, 2000). At this level, bi-directional influences are at their strongest and have the greatest impact on the child (Paquette & Ryan, 2000).

Examples of relationships experienced within Rowan’s Microsystem include:

Rowan’s Microsystem

Rowan & FatherRowan &

Brother

Rowan & Local High School

Rowan & Local Soccer team

Rowan & Local ChurchRowan & Butcher ShopRowan & Friends

In 2002, 20% of young people had attended

church or participated in other reliIgious

activities (16% of males and 23%

of females) (A.B.S, 2008)

The Mesosystem The mesosystem encompasses the connection between the relationships experienced within a child’s immediate environment (Berk, 2000).

Examples of shared relationships within Rowan’s Mesosystem include:

Rowans’s Mesosystem

Mother & Father

Brother, Sister & MotherBrother, Sister & Father

Father & local High SchoolFather & local Soccer team

In 2005 young men participated in

sport and physical recreation at a

higher rate than young women (78%

compared with 68%) (A.B.S,

2008) .

The ExosystemThe Exosystem involves external social systems which a child does not function directly. The structures in this layer influence a child’s development by interacting with some structure in his/her Microsystem or Mesosystem (Berk, 2000)

Examples of social systems operating within in Rowan’s Exosystem include:

Rowan’s Exosystem

Sister’s UniversityMother’s

volunteer work at the Local Hospital

Local NeighbourhoodAustralian Government

Extended Family

Brother & Father’s Workplace

In 2006, 22% of women were

regular volunteers

compared with 19% of men

(A.B.S, 2008)

The MacrosystemThe macrosystem is the outermost layer and involves the larger cultural context of a child’s environment. While not being a particular framework, this layer is comprised of cultural values, customs, and laws which act as blueprints for all the other systems (Paquette & Ryan, 2000).

Examples of social structures outlined within Rowan’s Macrosystem include:

Rowan’s Macrosystem

Australian Culture

Catholic Church

Social ExpectationsGlobal

Political Culture

Australian Economy

Global Economy

Australian Political Culture

In 2001, the two most common ancestries of

the Australian population were

Australian (reported by 6.7 million people) and English (reported by 6.4 million) (A.B.S,

2008).

Referneces Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008) Social Trends (Cat. No4102.0).

Canberra. Accessed 13 March 2009, from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4102.0?opendocument?utm_id=LN

Berk, L. E. (2000). Child Development (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 23-38

Paquette, D. & Ryan, J. (2001). Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Accessed 13 March 2009, from: http://pt3.nl.edu/paquetteryanwebquest.pdf