BRONFENBRENNER Meaning and
Definition
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Bronfenbrenner refers to the ecological systems theory developed by the Russian-American developmental psychologist, Urie Bronfenbrenner. This theory proposes that human development is influenced by the interconnectedness between individuals and the environments in which they live. The Bronfenbrenner theory asserts that these environments can be analyzed within four interconnected levels, which together create the context for human development.
The first level is the microsystem, which represents the immediate settings in which individuals interact face-to-face, such as family, school, and peer groups. The second level is the mesosystem, which accounts for the connections between different microsystems and the impact they have on an individual's development. These connections may include the influences of parents on schools or schools on neighborhoods.
The third level is the exosystem, which includes settings that indirectly impact an individual's development, such as the workplace or mass media. The fourth level is the macrosystem, which represents the broader cultural and societal influences that shape human development. This includes cultural values, social norms, and government policies.
Bronfenbrenner's theory emphasizes that development is best understood when considering the individual's interaction with multiple contexts and levels of influence. It highlights the importance of understanding the reciprocal and bidirectional impact between individuals and their environments. This theory has been influential in fields such as psychology, education, and sociology, providing a framework for examining the complexity of human development and the diverse factors that shape it.
