Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological

developmental theory and

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
Human development and learning

Dr Karen Oakley
Senior lecturer, Educational Psychology
Clinical Neuropsychologist

Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological
developmental theory and Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs

In this lecture, we will cover:

• Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological developmental
theory
Dr Karen Oakley
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

1
Bioecological developmental theory
Development in context – the environment in which
people develop.
• ‘Progressive, reciprocal, emotionally and
motivationally loaded interplay, interaction through
the life course between an active, growing human
organism – curious, feeling, thinking and the changing
properties and enduring properties of its environment
– both immediate and more remote.’ (Bronfenbrenner
Center, 2015)
• ‘Development is a joint interactive function of person
and context.’ (Bronfenbrenner Center, 2015)

Reference:
Bronfenbrenner Center. (2015, August 24). Urie Bronfenbrenner, "The Developing Ecology of
Human Development” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaQHgVaeKrc Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory
of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)

Centre: The child/individual

• Age, sex, gender
• Biology
• Cognition
• Morals
• Values
• Personality
They exist within their family, culture, community and
wider social contexts.
The systems (including people) and context around them
influence the individual’s development.
Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory
of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)
The individual impacts the systems and people around
them.

2
 Microsystem: Interpersonal
• Immediate environment
• Regular, direct interactions
• Family
• Peers
• School and teachers
• Other groups/places with regular
interaction
Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory
of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)

Mesosystem
• The interactions and relationships
between those in the microsystem. For
example:
o parents and peers
o parents and school
o different peer groups.

Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory

of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)

3
Exosystem: Community and organisations
• Systems that impact/effect the
individual child, but usually there is not
a direct interaction
o Broader community and
neighbours
o Politics and government
o Mass media
o Economic system, industry
o Legal system
o Social services Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory
of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)
o Health services

Macrosystem: Broader culture

• Attitudes
• Ideologies
• Values

Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory

of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)

4
 Chronosystem
• The role of time.
o When events occur in a person’s
life.
o Sociohistorical context – changes
in the different levels of the
system over time.

Source: Adapted from Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory

of development (Guy-Evans, 2023)

Individual needs: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Behaviour is motivated by our
need to satisfy a hierarchy of
needs.

Lower-level survival and safety

needs must be met before
higher-level needs.

Self-actualisation: the
realisation of personal potential

Newer model has more aspects

in the top of the model – before
self-actualisation – includes
cognitive needs, aesthetic
needs and then a final level of
transcendence. Source: Adapted from Maslow’s (1970) hierarchy of needs (McLeod, 2023)

5
 The University of Canberra acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where Bruce Campus is
situated. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra
and the region. We also acknowledge all other First Nations Peoples on whose lands we gather.

The University of Canberra acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where Bruce Campus is
situated. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra
and the region. We also acknowledge all other First Nations Peoples on whose lands we gather.