Ecological Systems Theory of Bronfenbrenner - Essay Example

? Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory Introduction Bronfernbrenner’s theory is an Ecological theory that deals with the development of a child in relation to the environment that surrounds the child. According to this theory, each complex layer of the environment has an effect on the development of a child. The theory farther explains that a child’s own biology is a primary environment that fuels her development (Berk, 2008). Moreover, the theory adds that connection, and interaction between the factors in the Childs life, for example, his maturing biology, societal landscape, and his family or the community, all contribute in the fueling of the child’s development. Bronfenbrenner argues that the several environmental systems affect a child’s development, for example, church, school, family, neighbors, and their peers (Berk 2008, p 47). These factors fall under a number of systems that include; mesosystem, exosystem, Microsystems, and macrosystems. This paper intends to explore how Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory helps us to understand the development of secondary emotion, and the development of expression of emotion in different contexts. Different children develop differently. Research has shown that one may encounter children of the same age, and sex, yet their development is different. Some children may show signs of quick development, while others may be slow in development. Brionfebrenner in his ecological theory has explained that these differences are all as a result of the child’s development, which is influenced, by the environment in which he is in. In his theory, he has given different kinds of environmental system that affects a child’s development (Berk 2008, p 38). One of the systems is Microsystems; this is the child’s immediate environment. This could include the immediate relationship with the people they interact with every day. For example, a child’s Microsystems may include his immediate family, and their schools. The next level according to this theory is the mesosytem. The mesosystem of a child involves how the child’s immediate interactions work together for the child’s achievement or well being. For example, it could refer to how a child’s immediate family takes concern in the child’s schooling. Exosytem is the next level. This level involves the other things or people who do not often interact with the child. For example, this includes extended family, or the child’s neighborhood. Even, though, these people do not often interact with the child, they contribute a vast deal in his development (Berk 2008, p 20). The final stage in the theory is the Macrosystem. This involves the most distant people or things that interact with the child. This could include the freedom that has been given to the child by the nation, wars, cultural values and beliefs. Though, they may have far distant relationship and interaction with the child, they play a crucial role in the child’s development, and they may either have positive, or negative effect on the child’s development. These levels discussed by Bronfernbrenner’s ecological theory, can help explain the development of secondary emotion, and the development of expression of emotion in different contexts. When a child is growing up, they rely, on the people around them, to direct them on how things should be done. Their mind and thoughts are still vulnerable, since whatever they are told to do, or whatever they see people around them do, is mostly what they adapt. Bronfernbrenner’s ecological theory explains that a child’s development is highly influenced by his environment (Berk 2008, p 19). For example, the microsystem of a child plays a hug role in the development of their secondary emotions, and the development of expressions of emotions. As explained, Microsystem includes people who commonly interact with the child, for example, the family. When a child is born, the first people he meets is his families. The family gets to have a significant influence on the development of the child (Berk 2008, p 81). For example, if a family is nurturing and encouraging to the child, the better the child will be able to develop. A child’s emotions and expressions are highly influenced by how a child is treated or what the child sees around every day. If a child is raised in a family that is full of hate and anger, then the child will develop a primary emotion which is sadness because of what is happening in his family, and later that feeling will develop into a secondary feeling of anger, because of the things happening around him, as a result of his family’s problems. This shows how the Microsystem can have an influence on a child’s development of secondary emotion (Berk 2008, p 72). The Microsystem could also have an influence on a child’s expression of emotion. For example, if a child is always given what he wants by the parents and is never denied anything, then the child’s development is affected in that the child becomes selfish, and cannot be satisfied unless they have their way. In this case, this affect’ a child’ development of emotion expression in that, a child may develop anger as an expression when they are denied their requests. Thus, the immediate people or environment that surrounds a child has an enormous influence on the secondary emotions and expression of emotion (Wilson 2003, p 39). Bronfernbrenner’s theory has also provided the mesosystem level to help people understand how the environment can have an influence on the development of a child’s secondary emotion, and development of expression. The mesosytem involves the immediate people or things that surround or interact with the child coming together, and working together for the good of the child (Wilson 2003, p 29). If the parents of a child show concerns in a child’s education by attending school functions like parents day meeting, this will help in the positive development of a child. A child will develop all-round positively, including in the emotion lector. Their mind will be at peace since they will be receiving attention from their parent, as is required, and this will incur a positive feeling of emotion on the child. A child sees the importance of something when people around him show its importance. In this case, the immediate things that interact with the child, often, have come together; parents and School, and; thus working together for the good of the child. However, i a child is under the care of parents or caregivers who disagree on how they should raise the child, or what school the child should attend, this will lead to the child receiving contrasting lessons from the parents separately; thus, hindering the child’s growth in different channels (Wilson 2003, p 20). One part of the child’s development that may be affected by this is emotional expression development. The child will not know the right way to express themselves without hurting the feelings of either parent since the child will have to choose between the two parents all the time. The exosytem, according to the ecological theory also has an immense influence on the child’s emotional, and expression of emotions development. The exosytem as explained included the other people, or place that the child may not interact with often, for example, the extended family, neighborhood, or the parent’s employment. However, they play a prominent role in a child’s general development. For example, when a parent gets promoted at work to a better position, this does not only affect the parents, but affects the child too. This implies more money in the family; thus, more clothes, good food, and better living conditions (Wilson, 2003). This will tend to affect the child positively; thus, leading to a positive development on the child emotionally. However, if the parents get laid off from work, it will mean that their life standard will have to go down. Thus, the child will have to forget the luxuries, for example, holidays that they used to go to with their parents. This will affect a child emotionally. The self esteem and, confidence that they ones had will be diminished. Their emotions will be of sadness and anger; this will also result to negative expression of emotions in the child (Wilson 2003, p 81). Finally, the macrosystem is another level to consider in a child’ development. This includes the most distant people or things from the child, for example, the rules that have been put to protect the child by the nation, the cultures and values of the society, and the economy. Even, though, these factors may not have a close contact or interaction with the child; they have a substantial influence in the child’s development. For example, the culture of the society that the child is born into is extremely valuable. Different societies have different cultures and beliefs (Wilson 2003, p 72). There are some behaviors that are considered to be right in one culture, but are seen as obscene by another. These cultures have a critical role in the child’s development. For example, some parents like to make sure that their children relate to their cultures; thus, they take them to their ancestral place to meet people, and learn about their culture. In some communities, problems are solved through sitting down, and talking about the problem, and; thus, coming up with a solution that suits both parties (Wilson 2003, p 18). If a child comes into contact with this culture, and gets to learn and understand it, the child adapts the mature way of expressing their anger, through talking it out, and expressing their feelings in a civilized manner. However, if a child is exposed to a culture where people solve their problems through fighting or quarrelling, the child will adapt this behavior and will have negative development in the expression of their emotions (Wilson 2003, p 23). Conclusion Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory explains clearly how the environment can easily affect a child’s development in emotional expressions, in different contexts. Children are brought up in different environments, and interact with people of different characters every day. Such people have a strong influence on the development of the child. Both close and distant people can influence a child’s development in a positive and negative way depending on the role they play on the child’s life. Thus, this theory clearly helps to explain how different ecological factors play a role in the emotional development of a child in different contexts, depending on different factors that the child is exposed to, in their daily life. References Berk, L. (2008). Child Development 8th Edition. Allyn and Bacon. Wilson, L. (2003). The Emotional Life of Children. KEON Publications. Read More