1. By: Angela Buenaventura S000 938 93

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Individual Microsystem Mesosystem Exosystem Macrosystem Chronosystem

7. 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 Family Friends School Peers

8. Individual Friends Family 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

9. 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

10. 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 (Parent)(Teacher) Mesosystem

11. 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.

12. 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…

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Individual Microsystem Mesosystem Exosystem Macrosystem Chronosystem E.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...

18. 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.

20. CategoryStatisticYear Families with children aged under 15 Years 2 2242004 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 0002004 Commonwealth of Australia. (2005). Australian Social Trends 2005. (Catalogue No: 4.102.0) [Catalogue] Australian Bureau of Statistics.

21. CategoryStatisticYear Marijuana/Cannabis: Drugs ever used 33.6%2004 Marijuana/Cannabis: Drugs recently used 11.3%2004 Marijuana/Cannabis: Mean age of initiation 18.72003 Mothers who had a cannabis diagnosis during pregnancy 21271998-2002 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.

22. 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 10 th of March in the lecture of EDFD 127