Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Map Simone Bosch S Simone Bosch S

Avatar: Virtual Child / Name: Chad / Gender: Male / Age: Four years old / Very bright - possibly gifted / Only child / Parents both of African heritage / Family of poor socio-economic status / Single parent family - is taken care of by his father after parents’ divorce / Various places of residence - constantly moving / Attends day care / Father employed as a salesman although well educated / Name: Chad / Gender: Male / Age: Four years old / Very bright - possibly gifted / Only child / Parents both of African heritage / Family of poor socio-economic status / Single parent family - is taken care of by his father after parents’ divorce / Various places of residence - constantly moving / Attends day care / Father employed as a salesman although well educated

Microsystem The microsystem is the first layer of Bronfenbrenner’s model and is described as the immediate setting surrounding a person and the most proximal level of context to the individual. (Bronfenbrenner, 1977)

Chad’s Microsystem / Father / Mother / Day care / Various places of residence / Father / Mother / Day care / Various places of residence

Mesosystem The relationships between those contained in the microsystem are determined in the mesosystem. (Bronfenbrenner, 1977)

Chad’s Mesosystem Antagonistic relationship between both parents, having resulted in their separation - Chad and his father become a closer, stronger team. Father’s dissatisfaction with Chad’s day care - (Chad’s cognitive development is not being adequately nurtured as he is intelligent) Father feels more responsible for the education of his child as he cannot afford higher quality care. Mother and child separated - Chad is naturally curious as to why she has left but trusts and loves his father and their strong relationship is positive. Antagonistic relationship between both parents, having resulted in their separation - Chad and his father become a closer, stronger team. Father’s dissatisfaction with Chad’s day care - (Chad’s cognitive development is not being adequately nurtured as he is intelligent) Father feels more responsible for the education of his child as he cannot afford higher quality care. Mother and child separated - Chad is naturally curious as to why she has left but trusts and loves his father and their strong relationship is positive.

Exosystem The exosystem includes interactions that the individual does not experience directly, but are influenced by because they affect the microsystems. (Bronfenbrenner, 1974, 1989, 2001)

Chad’s Exosystem Father’s job/profession generates low income, yet he associates with are of high socio- economic status. Mother’s job - also generates low income (this contributed the consequent pressures that lead to parent’s separation). Poor socio-economic neighbourhood. Father’s job/profession generates low income, yet he associates with are of high socio- economic status. Mother’s job - also generates low income (this contributed the consequent pressures that lead to parent’s separation). Poor socio-economic neighbourhood.

Macrosystem The macrosystem is the larger cultural or sub-cultural setting in which both of the microsystems and exosystems are embedded. (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, 1989, 2001)

Chad’s Macrosystem Government regulations Church - with mixture of both poor and high socio-economic status who share the same religious beliefs Social Services - sometimes and option for temporary accomodation Government regulations Church - with mixture of both poor and high socio-economic status who share the same religious beliefs Social Services - sometimes and option for temporary accomodation

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory Map

Government regulations Church Social Services Father’s job Mother’s job Poor socio-economic neighbourhood Hostile relationship between parents Father’s dissatisfaction with Chad’s day care Mother & Child separation causing Chad’s relationship with his father to strengthen Mother Father Day care Various places of residence

Statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia, Families may be comprised of: ･ couples with or without co-resident children of any age; ･ lone parents with co-resident children of any age; or ･ other families of related adults, such as brothers or sisters living together, where no couple or parent-child relationship exists. The proportion of one parent families with children of any age declined slightly in compared to previous years (14% in down from 15% in both 2003 and 1997) Australian Bureau of Statistics. ( ). Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia, Retrieved March 19, 2009, from ABS website: Families may be comprised of: ･ couples with or without co-resident children of any age; ･ lone parents with co-resident children of any age; or ･ other families of related adults, such as brothers or sisters living together, where no couple or parent-child relationship exists. The proportion of one parent families with children of any age declined slightly in compared to previous years (14% in down from 15% in both 2003 and 1997) Australian Bureau of Statistics. ( ). Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia, Retrieved March 19, 2009, from ABS website:

References: Australian Bureau of Statistics. ( ). Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia, Retrieved March 19, 2009, from ABS website: White, F., Hayes, B., Livesey, D. (2005). Introduction to developmental psychology. In F. White, B. Hayes, D. Livesey, Developmental psychology: from infancy to adulthood (pp. 1-29). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia/Prentice Hall. Bee, H., Boyd, D. (2006). The ecology of development. In H. Bee, D. Boyd, The developing child (11 th ed., pp ). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Australian Bureau of Statistics. ( ). Family Characteristics and Transitions, Australia, Retrieved March 19, 2009, from ABS website: White, F., Hayes, B., Livesey, D. (2005). Introduction to developmental psychology. In F. White, B. Hayes, D. Livesey, Developmental psychology: from infancy to adulthood (pp. 1-29). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education Australia/Prentice Hall. Bee, H., Boyd, D. (2006). The ecology of development. In H. Bee, D. Boyd, The developing child (11 th ed., pp ). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.