The ecology of human development Experience by nature

The ecology of human development Experience by nature and design Uri Bronfenbrenner 1979 TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 1

The ecology of human development 2 o o o Basic ideas: Reaction against: traditional developmental psychology focusing upon the individuals characteristics and the development of these (basic heritage) Sociological models where the environment and structures models the individual Sum: emphasizing mutual interaction Human philosophy: What an individual become it becomes as a result of interaction and mutuality with it’s environment TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 2

The ecology of human development 3 o o o Development: Development is defined as the person’s evolving conception of the ecological environment, and his relation to it, as well as the person’s capacaty to discover, sustain, or alter its properties Bronfenbrenner 79: 9 TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 3

The ecology of human development 4 o o o Microsystem A microsystem is a pattern of activities , roles, and interpersonal relations experienced by the developing person in a given setting with particular physical and material characteristics Bronfenbrenner 79: 22 A microsystem is where the individual self partisipate: activities - relations - roles TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 4

The ecology of human development 5 o o Mesosystem: A mesosystem comprises the interrelations among two or more settings in which the developing person actively participates Bronfenbrenner 79: 25 setting - microsystem TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 5

The ecology of human development 6 o o o Exosystem An exosystem refers to one or more settings that do not involve the developing person as an active participant, but in which events occur that affect, or are affected by, what happens in the setting containing the developing person. Bronfenbrenner 79: 25 TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 6

The ecology of human development 7 o o o Macrosystem: The macrosystem refers to consistencies , in the form and content of lowerorder systems (micro, - meso, and ecso, -) that exist at the level of the subculture or the culture as a whole, along with any belief systems or ideology underlying such consistencies (Bronfenbrenner 79: 26) In essence: The Culture TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 09. 98 TE 7

The ecology of human development 8 o o o The functioning of the system: an ecosystem aims at a balance - thermostat model Different ecosystems has different tolerance for imbalance Selfcorrecting procedures The special educationalist is himself participant in the systems on different levels and may be one person that create imbalance The need for comprehensive solutions TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 8

The ecology of human development 9 o o o Roles: A role is a set of activities and relations expected of a person occupying a particular position in society, and of others in relation to that person. Bronfenbrenner 79: 85 Positive roles: formal: leaders, headmaster, professors, ? Informal: successful teacher or student, good at activities that is valued TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 9

The ecology of human development 10 o o o Ecological traps: Calhoun: Dysfunctional losers roles - easy to get into if you break the norm of the system consequences can be social isolation. Students: For teachers: Systems: Parents and relatives: TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 10

The ecology of human development 11 o o Ecological transition: An ecological transition occurs whenever a person’s position is altered as the result of a change in role, setting or both Bronfenbrenner 79: 26 Setting: a place with a particular physical framing, where the individuals participate in decidedly activities and has fixed roles in specific intervals of time TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 11

The ecology of human development 12 o o o Behavior Problems In this perspective we can not understand BP as a result of special characteristics solely by the individual, nor as a direct influence from the environment BP can be interpreted as unbalance in the individuals ecosystem , that is as an interactional problem between the individual and the system- a failure to match The unbalance can be due to lack of accordance between the individual and expectations from the system or lack of conformity between different (micro) systems - a mesoproblem. TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 12

The ecology of human development 13 o o o o Assessment and change: Practical and eclectic in choice of methods interdisiplinarity. Potential of change: We can try to change the individual who are supposed to have a problem We can try to change the persons who define the problem We can try to change the situation, psychological and physical environment We can try to change the interaction between the different participants TE Ecology of human development ISP -UIO 13