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Bronfenbrenner s Theory
Four basic structures The Microsystem The Mesosystem The Exosystem The Macrosystem

Microsystem (micro = small )

The activities and relationships with significant others experienced by children in a particular small setting such as: Family School Peer group Community Media

The Family
Family is the setting that provides nurturance, affection, and a variety of opportunities Family is the primary socializer of children in that it has the most significant impact on their development

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The School
The School is the setting in which children formally learn about their society The School is a socializer of children that teaches reading, writing, arithmetic, history, science, and so on

The Peer Group

The Peer Group is the setting in which children are generally unsupervised by adults and gain experience in independence The Peer Group helps children get a sense of who they are and what they can do

The Community
The Community or neighborhood is the main microsystem in which children learn by what they are doing The Community determines what real experiences children will have

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The Media
Television Movies Videos Books Magazines Music Computers

Fig. 1-5, p. 22

Mesosystem (meso = intermediate

Interrelationships between two or more of a child s microsystems: Home and School School and Community Peer Group and School Etc.

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Fig. 1-6, p. 24

Exosystem (exo = outside )

Settings in which children are not active participants, but that affect them in one of their microsystems Parents job City council Parental social support networks etc

Fig. 1-7, p. 25

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Macrosystems (macro = large )

The society and subculture to which children belong, with particular reference to Belief systems Lifestyles Patterns of social interactions Life changes Etc.

Ethnicity
Ethnicity is an attribute of membership in a group in which members continue to identify themselves by national origin, culture, race, or religion Ethnic diversity in U.S. makes the understanding of the macrosystem more important

Hall s Classification of Macrosystems

Low-Context Rationality Practicality Competition Individuality Progress High Context Intuitiveness Emotionality Cooperation Group identity Tradition