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Role of environment in child development
Environmental factors affect child development in the community
Environmental factors affect child development in the community
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Developmental psychologist, Urie Bronfenbrenner generated a bioecological theory of human development. According to him, the social context of a person’s interactions and experiences determine the degree to which individuals can develop their abilities and realize their potentials (Berns 17). Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory describes how a child’s development is affected by their relationships and social interactions with their outside environment. His theory provides a model that examines “the whole picture of the developing child” (Berns 16). Bronfenbrenner’s theory permits logical study of interactions between the developing child and their social environment. The theory also “serves as a guide for future research on the process of socialization” (Berns 17). Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of human development The structure consist of a person’s society and subculture particularly referring to their belief systems, lifestyles, patterns of social interaction, and life changes (Berns 22). Macrosystems are viewed as “sets of instructions, for exosystems, mesosystems, and microsystems” (Berns 22). My macrosystem includes how I view society and what I believe in. I live in the United States of America and I have developed a way of life in the American culture. That macrosystem of the American culture instructs how I live my every day life and my behavior with my interactions and relationships. This macrosystem has shaped my socialization and my development immensely since birth. Another example of my macrosystem is that I am Catholic. My catholic traditions guide me in how I respond to my other systems. Catholicism has helped me grow and develop into the person I am today. Catholicism is part of my macrosystem because it is where I developed my values and spiritual beliefs, moral codes for my actions within my microsystems, my mesosystems and my
Culture often means an appreciation of the finer things in life; however, culture brings members of a society together. We have a sense of belonging because we share similar beliefs, values, and attitudes about what’s right and wrong. As a result, culture changes as people adapt to their surroundings. According to Bishop Donald, “let it begin with me and my children and grandchildren” (211). Among other things, culture influences what you eat; how you were raised and will raise your own children? If, when, and whom you will marry; how you make and spend money. Truth is culture is adaptive and always changing over time because
The environmental influences must be considered in order to understand the behavioral of a child. Urie Bronfenbrenner was a famous Russian American psychologist who formulated the Ecological Model Systems in 1979. He believed that as a child grow and mature, the way he/she interact with the environment become more complex. The Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model Systems defines how external environments and individuals affect the development of a child. It is made up of four systems that greatly influence the development of a child. The four systems are microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. My parents divorced when I was 3 years old and I grew up in a broken family. My microsystem includes immediate relationship I interact with,
Bronfenbrenner theorised that there are many different influences that affect a child’s development, forming 5 systems to categorise certain events, or environments into. This theory helps me to understand the theme of Nature Vs Nurture, as it gives some context as to what environments can affect a child's development. From this, we can work out solutions for each child's situation, to ensure that their development is still progressing.
Looking at child development from a biological perspective is a tactic very popular throughout the scientific community (Gardner, 2005). Many theories, such as the maturational theory and ethological theory, help to enforce the biological theory, which states that development is determined primarily by biological forces (McNamara, 2011). After exploring Jerry and Samantha’s development, specifically social progress, through a biological lens, much rationality is apparent as to why these two first graders experience dif...
In the model I developed for child development there are three main groups: physical, mental, and social. Within these three groups are subcategories, many including ideas from various theorists, that I will use to support my system of child development. Throughout this paper, I will use ideas, definitions, and examples from the theorists I have chosen and from my own experience.
Children are products of their environment. There are several factors that determine the future outcome of the child. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model breaks down the components that effect the child. This model contains several layers; the inner most layer is called the microsystem, then comes the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Each layer describes different factors that explain how and why the child behaves or grows up to be a certain way.
Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J.A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent-child interaction. In P.H. Mussen (Series Ed.) & E.M. Hetherington (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 4. Socialization, personality, and social development. New York: Wiley.
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory will be applied throughout this essay to delve into the reasoning behind particular behavioural issues. According to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, an individual has multiple environments known as their ecological systems (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). Bronfenbrenner (1994) suggests that a developing child is influenced by the relationships surrounding them and the best way to understand a child’s behaviour is to look at the numerous aspects of the child’s environment and how they interact with each other. The relationships and environments that the child interacts with have been separated into layers known as the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem and the overarching chronosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). The microsystem is the environment where the child has direct face-to-face relationships such as at home, day care and school (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). The relationships formed within the microsystem directly impact the development of a child (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). It is through the processes of repeated interactions with people, objects and symbols that the human develops (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). The second layer in the ecological model is the mesosystem, which is the interaction between two of the microsystems such as the relationship between a parent and a teacher (Bronfenbrenner, 1994). The exosystem is an external environment, with which the
In Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, there are five systems that ultimately influence an individual. The first system is the microsystem, which consists of the people who have direct contact to an individual. In my own life, my immediate family consists of my mother and I. I am an only child to my mother and since my mother and my father have been separated since I was a baby, he has not been part of my microsystem. In addition, I am also a student at CCP. I have a network of friends whom I keep in close contact with. The people that I encounter at home, school, and work have direct contact with me and thus, they are part of my microsystem.
Bronfenbrenner’s approach was to study children in their natural environments to explore how a child experiences and interprets their world within a complex system of relationships (Berk, 2009, p. 26). His theory regards the environment of a child; taking into account the practices within that environment and how they might influence development and of the child’s individual connections to show the way in which external forces and the child interrelate to influence their development (Paquette and Ryan, n.d.). It is important to recognise how the interaction of the systems with bidirectional (adults affect children’s behaviour but children’s behaviour can also affect adults’ behaviour [Berk, 2009]) influences within and between the systems can strengthen or interrupt healthy child development as each system contains roles, norms, values, beliefs and rules that can effectively shape their development.
Human development issues have remained critical in understanding how and why people behave the way they do. Several human development theories exist to explain human development from birth through to death. Some of these have focused on the psychological aspects of human development while others on the cognitive aspect (Piaget, 1971; Lerner, 2001; Swick and Williams, 2006). Other human development theories have also focused on the social and environmental aspects (Bronfenbrenner & Bronfenbrenner, 2009; Swick, 2004). This current essay examines one of the major social theories relating to child development. The theory to be examined is the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of human development. The essay will further examine the applicability of the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory to my personal development, growing up as a child between the ages of 4 years and 12 years. In the first instance, the essay will focus on explaining the – Bronfenbrenner’s theory including the four types of systems described by the theory. Subsequently, the essay will examine how these systems apply to my life in relation to the social systems in which I grew in South Sudan in Africa. It will be seen that the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory
The Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory focuses on how ones environment can affect a person’s development. It focuses on 5 main areas namely the Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem and Chronosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1977, p. 514-515). Each system represents the setting in which they live in and how these people affect their growth. In this particular case study, Andy’s main influence is from the Microsystem and Mesosystem.
Harris, J. R. (1995). Where is the child's environment? A group socialization theory of development. Psychological Review.
Child growth and development is a process that consists of some building blocks, which are components that combine in an infinite number of ways (Cherry, n.d.). As a result of the variations of building blocks in a child’s development, educators, psychologists, and philosophers have been constantly engaged in the debate of nature versus nurture debate. Many researchers agree that child development is a complex interaction between his/her genetic background (nature) and his/her environment (nurture). In essence, some developmental aspects are strongly affected by biology whereas other aspects are influenced by environmental factors. From the onset of an individu...
From a very early age, children experience many different stages of life until they become fully-functioning adults with distinguished personalities. Throughout each stage of a child’s life, different socialization agents play a pivotal role in his or her development and transition into adulthood. Throughout this essay, I will discuss what socialization is, as well as implying socialization in terms of the connection between biological development of the individual and individuals learning the norms and customs of society. Furthermore, to accomplish this task, I will describe the four key agents of socialization (family, school, peers, and mass media). I then aim for the audience to comprehend the difference between socialization during other