Bronfenbrenner’s theory

Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecology Model is made up of six layers, each impacting on the
child’s development in some way. (Parquette and Ryan, 2001). At the centre of
Brofenbrenner’s Social Ecology Model is the Individual. The theory has recently been
renamed the “Bioecological Systems Theory”, to emphasise that a child’s own biology is
a primary environment fueling their development. (Parquette and Ryan, 2001 ). The
child’s particular individual characteristics such as age, sex, health and personality play
a crucial role in how they interact with those around them.

My avatar, Bradley Cooper, is an eight-year-old male, the second eldest of four

siblings and of Aboriginal descent. Bradley’s development has been affected by his
asthma and the fact that he had hearing loss, caused by inner ear infections. This led to
him becoming quite shy and withdrawn in social settings, which later resulted in a lack
of confidence at school. The Microsystem refers to the contextual influences that are
closest to the child. It consists of the people and places the child sees on a daily basis
and is affected by the child’s perception of them.
Bradley Cooper lives with his mother, grandmother and four siblings in the large outer
regional town of Dubbo, NSW. Outer Regional Areas are a common living place for
Aboriginal people, with 23. 1% compared to General Australia with 10. 1%. (“Statistical
Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia”, 2005) Bradley
attends the local state primary school, where he is in Year Three. Like many Aboriginal
children, he performed slightly below the national average for reading and writing,
according to the NAPLAN test.

Bradley has contact with other members of the community, through after school care
and weekend AFL. According to Brofenbrenner (1979), “As long as increased numbers
in a child’s microsystem mean more enduring reciprocal relationships, increasing the
size of the system, will enhance child development. ” (p. 23). The Mesosystem refers to
the way in which two or more settings of the microsystem interrelate or match. The
more powerful an influence the resulting system will be on the child’s development
depends on how diverse and strong the links are among settings. Read how to apply
Bronfenbrenner’s theory

In Bradley’s ecological map, the main link between the layers is his attendance at after
school care. This allows his mother to finish her shift cleaning at the local hospital,
before picking her children up. The Exosystem refers to settings, not directly involved
with the child, but still exerting influence over them. They usually do this through
contact with other family members. The fact that Bradley’s mother works as a cleaner
at the local hospital brings her into contact with other people and provides her with
experiences that indirectly impact on Bradley.

Likewise, Bradley’s father’s experiences in gaol will have a subtle affect on his
development. The Macrosystem involves the values and cultural beliefs, which are
passed on through families, schools and organisations. Bradley is cared for by his
grandmother, who adds to the family’s strong sense of Aboriginality, through her telling
of traditional stories and customs. The family attends cultural days at the local
community centre, where they learn about their heritage and interact socially with other
members of the Aboriginal community.

Bradley’s mother tries to be a good role model for her children while her husband is in
gaol, by working part-time to support her family, rather than just relying on
government assistance. The Chronosystem acknowledges that context can change over
time and that historical changes in attitude can impact on health and well being of
families and children. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s recent apology to the Aboriginal
stolen generation was a huge step towards reconciliation and represented a shifting
attitude towards Aboriginal people in the community.

Efforts are now being made to address he inequities in education, health and welfare
between those of Aboriginal descent and the general community. Bronfenbrenner’s
ecological systems theory focuses on the quality and context of the child’s environment
and the way in which the interaction within these environments becomes more complex
as the child grows. This complexity can arise as the child’s physical and cognitive
structures grow and mature. (Parquette and Ryan, 2001). Brofenbrenner’s theory helps
us understand how the world that surrounds the child helps or hinders their continued
development.