By: Angela Buenaventura

S000 938 93

Urie Bronfenbrenner, who was a psychologist, contributed to theories on child development by developing one himself. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory encompasses the notion that there are multiple “layers” in the child’s environment which have direct impact on the child and their development even if the child does not directly interact with the layers.

An “Avatar” is a character I have created for this assessment. Throughout my assessment, I will refer to this character as “Avatar”.

Avatar is 13-years-old and is in his first year of High School. When his parents were 17 years-old, they conceived Avatar.

Since his parents were still very young, they still have difficulty in grasping parenthood and still abuse alcohol and too often, drugs, marijuana in particular.

Avatar’s younger brother, who is 7, was conceived when his mother was abusing drugs so he was born with a disability.

Soon after the birth of the second son, they conceived a little girl, who is now 6 and starting school. The 7-year-old son can not go to school as he can not independently do things such as go to the toilet by himself. Avatar’s mother is left at home looking after Avatar’s younger brother and the family receives a Carer’s Allowance from the government.

Avatar’s father works at a successful Mechanics. He was made a supervisor in 2001. However, Avatar’s father, earlier this year, reconciled with his estranged habit of drugs and alcohol causing him to not be as productive at work and being demoted, almost losing his job.

This was a major set-back to the family finances and they found that they had to move in with Avatar’s father’s parents. Avatar’s brother had to stop receiving treatment for his disability and Avatar’s parents used crucial dollars to buy Avatar and the family a new game console.

At school, Avatar thrives. He was born with a thirst for knowledge. However, he does not have a computer and at school, he gets teased for this. He often retaliates against his bullies and often gets in trouble for this. Avatar is starting to get left behind in his studies. Avatar has been able to make close friends who offer Avatar to use their computers however Avatar’s parents are always too busy to take him.

Avatar’s father and mother often quarrel about his father’s drug addiction and Avatar’s mother tries her best to remove her sons from that situation and distract them with the television or live with her parents for a while.

This Presentation will use Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Map and apply it to Avatar’s circumstances and development.

Individual

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem

Chronosystem

Microsystem

The Microsytem is the system that is most immediate layer to the child as the child has direct contact and interaction with the environment that makes up the microsystem.

Individual

FamilyFriends

School

Peers

Individual

FriendsFamily

Peers

School

Avatar is not

socially awkward and has made a

couple of close

friends

Avatar’s family is quite irregular as his parents were only teenagers

when Avatar was conceived and still have not adjusted to a mature,

family orientated lifestyle. Moreover, his mother can not engage in work

as she has to say home to look after his 7-year-old brother who has a

disability.

Sometimes, Avatar gets teased for being

overweight and not being computer illiterate which causes him to verbally

and sometimes physically attack other peers.

Avatar is intelligent and scored excellent marks in State

knowledge tests but can not reach his full potential as he does not own a computer, causing him to struggle to

complete assigned homework.

Microsystem

The Mesosystem is the system which entails the connection between the structures of the child Microsytem.

Individual

e.g The interaction

between home and school

would be the interaction

between the child’s parents (Microsystem) and the child’s

teacher (Microsystem).

(Microsystem)

Mesosystem

Mesosystem

Therefore, when Avatar misbehaves at school when he gets bullied by his peers, which he learnt not to tolerate by his parents, when his teacher discusses his behaviour with Avatar’s parents, this would be categorised under the Mesosystem.

Microsystem Microsystem (Parent) (Teacher)

Mesosystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

The Exosystem is the system that describe the environment which that child does not directly interact with. However, even though the developing person does not directly interact with this layer of the system, the Exosystem does interact with the layers closer to the child and decisions made within the Exosystem may affect the child.

Individual

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

E.g The interaction between Avatar’s

parent’s (Microsystem) place

of employment (Exosystem) would

affect Avatar. For instance, when

Avatar’s father was asked to work less

hours due to his lack of productivity, the young family had to spend their money

wisely to ensure they have enough

money to fulfill their needs such as

physical needs…

Exosystem

Moreover, because Avatar’s mother can not engage in employment as she has to stay home to look after Avatar’s 7-year-old brother who has a physical disability which prevents him from walking and therefore doing everyday tasks by himself, this caused Avatar’s family to move out of the house they were renting and move in with Avatar’s grandparents and they now live in an extended family arrangement.

Their house now consists of Avatar’s Grandfather, Avatar’s Grandmother, Avatar’s Mother, Avatar’s Father, Avatar’s Brother and Avatar.

It’s a loving environment as it has brought Avatar and his Grandmother close however since it is only a small two-bedroom house, Avatar has very little privacy.

Macrosystem

The Macroystem is the system which is the layer furthest to the child. However, despite the fact that it is the outmost layer, decisions made within the Macrosystem may generally affect the child. The Macrosytem incorporates the laws which govern the society, culture of the society, both national and international media and the developing and already established technology and societal norms.

Individual

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem E.g The Media of television

(Macrosystem) may have a violent movie playing and Avatar

may feel that he must watch it in

order to reassert his masculinity to

conform to society’s views on gender

role hence interpreting violence

to be acceptable and take this with him to school and

use violence against his peers

Macrosystem

Chronosystem

The Chronosystem is the system which acknowledges the affects of the child’s development due to temporal changes within their environment. Time is an important concept included within the Chronosystem. Moreover, this can be internal and external.

Individual

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystem

ChronosystemE.g. Avatar’s parents are constantly

fighting which has lead to them

separating for as long as a

month and there have been talks of divorce. The affects of the

separation and talks of divorce

is integrated within the

Chronosystem...

When Avatar’s parents argue and separate, sometimes Avatar finds himself living at his other grandparent’s home with his mother and brother. However, his other grandparent’s home already consists of: his grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunty and his little sister who was adopted by his grandparents because his parents can not look after her as his brother has special needs. His grandparent’s home is a 3 bedroom house so Avatar finds it extremely difficult to find his own space.

Avatar is very close to his dad and when he’s away from his dad, he feels alone causing him to develop a mild depression as his mother always attends to his little brother. Since there is a gap difference between Avatar (as he is 13-years-old), his little brother (who is 7), his little sister (who is 6), his grandfather (who is 50), his grandmother (who is 49), his uncle (who is 24), his aunty (who is 27) and his mother (who is 30) he finds it difficult to communicate with his family.

Category Statistic Year

Families with children aged under 15 Years

2 224 2004

Persons aged 25-34 living with parents – of all parents aged 25 – 34

12.5% 2004

Main source of income – of all households:

Wages and Salaries

58.0% 2003

Recipients of selected government payments:

Disability support pension

6 967 000 2004

Commonwealth of Australia. (2005). Australian Social Trends 2005. (Catalogue No: 4.102.0) [Catalogue] Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Category Statistic Year

Marijuana/Cannabis:

Drugs ever used

33.6% 2004

Marijuana/Cannabis: Drugs recently used

11.3% 2004

Marijuana/Cannabis:

Mean age of initiation

18.7 2003

Mothers who had a cannabis diagnosis during pregnancy

2127 1998-2002

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007). Statistics on drug use in Australia 2006. Drug Statistics Series No. 18. Cat. No. PHE 80 [Catalogue] Canberra AIHW.

Commonwealth of Australia. (2005). Australian Social Trends 2005. (Catalogue No: 4.102.0) [Catalogue] Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2007). Statistics on drug use in Australia 2006. Drug Statistics Series No. 18. Cat. No. PHE 80 [Catalogue] Canberra AIHW.

Lecture given by Joyce Martin on the 10th of March in the lecture of EDFD 127