Overview
The lecture explains Bronfenbrenner's socio-ecological framework, which outlines how various environmental levels affect a child's development.
The Six Levels of Bronfenbrenner's Framework
- The Individual level focuses on the child's personal attributes like gender, age, and ethnicity.
- The Microsystem includes people who interact directly with the child, such as parents, peers, and teachers.
- The Mesosystem examines relationships between elements in the microsystem, like parent-teacher or parent-peer interactions.
- The Exosystem consists of external environments affecting the child indirectly, such as a parent's work schedule.
- The Macrosystem involves broader societal and cultural beliefs influencing the child, such as societal views on success or failure.
- The Chronosystem (temporal level) considers the timing and duration of significant life events and transitions affecting the child.
Visual Representation
- The framework is often displayed as concentric circles with the child at the center and each system radiating outward.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Bronfenbrenner’s Socio-Ecological Framework — a model describing the multiple environments influencing a child's development.
- Individual — the child and their personal characteristics.
- Microsystem — direct relationships and immediate environments around the child.
- Mesosystem — interactions between different parts of the microsystem.
- Exosystem — external settings indirectly impacting the child.
- Macrosystem — overarching cultural and societal influences.
- Chronosystem — the effect of time, timing, and life events on development.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review a diagram of Bronfenbrenner’s concentric circles to visualize each system.
- Prepare to discuss examples of each system's influence in class.