What are your favorite developmental theories? One of mine is Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems model of chid development. Urie hit the scene in the 70s and was one of the first mainstream developmental theorists to really emphasize environment and context as they influence a growing child. In your mental spiderweb of theorists, I'd link Bronfenbrenner to Bandura and Vygotsky because of their emphasis on social influences.
The Big Thing To Remember with Bronfenbrenner's model is its identification of five nested systems located around and influencing the child. Here they are, working outward:
- Microsystem - immediate relationships/direct interactions (the kiddo's mom)
- Mesosystem - connections between microsystem folks (a kiddo's classmate is friends with the kiddo's brother)
- Exosystem - structures that influence microsystem folks (the neighborhood where the kiddo lives)
- Macrosystem - cultural influences (the kiddo's race, socioeconomic status, etc.)
- Chronosystem - time-specific influences unfolding over the course of the lifespan (climate change)
Which of the systems is the most difficult for you to wrap your head around?