ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Principles of Family Human Services Lesson

ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Principles of Family & Human Services

Lesson Overview 1. What is Bronfenbrenner’s Theory? 2. What factors influence an individual’s development, behaviors and personality? 3. Why is this important to the work of Human Services professionals?

BRONFENBRENNER’S THEORY OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS What influences an individual’s development, behavior, and personality over their lifespan? q Layers of influence q Views interactions of humans with their environments as a system q Biological, social, and physical aspects considered in context of the individual’s environment q Environments: q Natural world q Constructed realities q Social/cultural background q Changes/conflict ripple through all systems How does war impact individuals?

THE INDIVIDUAL

MICROSYSTEMS q Characterized by interpersonal relationships with close family members, friends, teachers q Stressors, negative influences or unhealthy relationships can have lasting effects on the individual

MESOSYSTEM q Interrelations between 2 microsystems q What are some examples of interactions at this level?

EXOSYSTEM q Indirect forces on an individual’s life that influence the individual q Examples: School system, medical institutions, mass media, community, government services q What other examples can you think of?

MACROSYSTEM q Culture in which the individual lives q Evolves and changes over time q Can you think of other examples?

CHRONOSYSTEM q Chronological changes in the person or environment over time q How do you think the following changes impacted individuals? q The onset of Alzheimer's disease q De-segregation of schools in the South q Women working outside the home

The theory in practice q Person-in-Environment q Evaluating situations and solutions q. Simplifies the complexity of human systems

Let’s Review Which system represents the inter-relations of 2 microsystems? Mass media and community would fall into which system? In which system is the individual directly involved with inter-personal relationships? Which system includes the chronological changes of the individual and culture over time? Which system includes the individual’s cultural environment? What does Person-in-Environment mean?