Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems and Erikson's Psychosocial Model: A Reflective Essay on Human Development

This reflective essay discusses the significant aspects of psychological development through Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems and Erikson's Psychosocial Model. It sheds light on the systematic development of human beings through different stages of life.

Running head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Reflective Essay
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1REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Human development can be defined as the process of emotional and cognitive
progression of human mind, which is being experienced by the people with the passage of time.
This is a systematic process, through which human being can accomplish sustainable
psychological development in the entire life span. Moore (2017) observed that this can also be
referred as developmental psychology, which needs to be assessed through certain theoretical
framework. This is a reflective essay which will shade light on the significant aspects of
psychological development. Two different theoretical frameworks namely Bronfennr Ecological
Systems Model and Erikson’s Psychosocial Model will be discussed in order to show systematic
development of human being.
Human development can be considered as the system of relationship, which can have a
firm influence on shaping the environment of human being. Bronfenbrenner was the pioneer to
introduce this ecological system. As discussed by Luthar (2015) the fundamental aim of
Bronfenbrenner behind introducing such ecological is to understand and redefine the process of
human development. According to Bronfenbrenner, human development is a scientific process.
This theoretical framework shows that, there are five different layers in ecosystem, which
strongly influences human development.

2REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Figure 1: Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems of human development
(Source: Sampson, 2017)
Different parameters of this model are discussed below:
 Microsystem
This is the initial parameter of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems of human development,
which shows closest relationship with people with that of the environment. This system ensures
cordial relationship in between children and their family as well as caregivers. Bornstein &
Bradley (2014) commented that in this microsystem, relationship can be considered as bi-
directional, in which the behavior of human being determines the way, through which he or she
is going to be treated.
 Meso-system
Meso-system is the next parameter of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems of human
development, which incorporates the interaction in between microsystem of different people.
This meso-system can be placed at time, when the microsystem of a person is not working
properly. However, Greenfield & Cocking (2014) counter argued by saying that both

3REFLECTIVE ESSAY
microsystem and meso-system are extremely dependent on each other. In this phase of
development, I have attained healthy interaction in between family and teachers and thereby
maintained healthy relationship with them.
 Exosystem
This is the third stage of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems, which enables the human
being to cope up with the social setting. In this phase of development, individuals do not hold
any active role in their own context. It is imperative to share my personal experience in this
context. In my childhood, I have perceived the fact that the experience of the parents of my
school mates played a crucial role in the way of influencing the behavior and action of my
parents. Exosystem, in its simplest form is based on the foundation, which defines larger social
system, where child does not participate directly. According to Mangin, Horwood & Woodward
(2017), this social structure is one of the most significant factors to influence child development.
Community-based family resources is a major example of this layer in eco-system.
 Macro-system
This is the outmost layer of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems, which incorporates
culture, values, beliefs and customs of a family, which are extremely important factors in
determining the way of developing a child. Keating (2016) stressed on the fact that this layer is
very much significant in influencing the degree of interaction between all the other layers. It is
worthy to mention that culture of parents plays a major role in raising children properly. It is true
that, culture does not provide the parents with the resources of raising a child, rather culture
shapes the structure, through which the parents can behave properly. For instance, motivating

4REFLECTIVE ESSAY
attitude of my parents had played a major role for me to strengthen my skill and competencies
(Kampouri et al., 2018).
 Chronosystem
This is the final and most imperative layer of child development, which comprises of
different dimensions of time, which is extremely important factor in determining child
development. There are both external elements such as behavior of parents and internal elements
such as psychological changes that happen in sphere of life, which can have a firm impact on
shaping systematic development of child. As discussed by Kim & Choi (2014) socio-historical
circumstances is one of the most important factors in the way of development of children. For
instance, degree of interaction between parents influences development level of children.
Singer (2017) shaded light on the fact that both biology and environment of children are the
greatest factor in promoting sustainable growth of children. It is true that, my parents played a
major role in motivating and thereby helping me to pursue my career. However, as my mother is
a working lady, there was a caregiver, who was bestowed with the responsibility of looking after
me. This caregiver had also supported me a lot to pursue my career. The way, through which the
families or caregivers or school behaves or interacts is extremely important factor in shaping
behavior of child. Temperament is one of the most significant matters of consideration in this
context, which is being shaped by specific and biological factor of child.
Every child experiences certain stages in order to accomplish sustainable development.
Meins, Bureau & Fernyhough (2018) opined that every person holds unique identity that is being
shaped by their personal traits, which either can be positive or negative. Such personality traits
can be both innate and acquired which varies from person to person. The human being possess

5REFLECTIVE ESSAY
different characteristic features. Erik Erikson showed that psychological development of a child
comprises of different stages, which influences growth of a children in a systematic manner.
Figure 2: Erikson's Psychosocial Stage Theory
(Source: Trawick-Smith & Smith, 2014)
The first stage, according to Erikson is Trust vs. Mistrust, which is being experienced by
the children aged in between 1 to 18 months. Reliability of the world is the initial crisis, faced by
every child in this period. During this stage, a degree of uncertainty regarding the world is being
experienced by the child (Luthar, 2015). The mother as well as caregiver should provide a child
with consistent care in order to resolve such feeling of uncertainty. Through constant support and
care, the child can be able to develop a sense of trust. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the
second stage of development, which promotes psychological development of children and
enables them to discover their skills. In this stage of development, I have become able to put on
my clothes and shoes. However, Mangin, Horwood & Woodward (2017) contended by saying
that it is the duty of parents to perceive the limits of their skills which is the key of encouraging

6REFLECTIVE ESSAY
them. Initiative vs. Guilt is the third major step of Erikson's Psychosocial Stage of development,
in which the children frequently assert themselves. This is the time of vigor of activities, in
which the parents may experience certain aggressiveness in behavior. In this stage, the children
often lack self-initiative (Kim & Choi, (2014).
Industry vs. Inferiority is the fourth step of child development which happens the aged
between in five to twelve. In this stage, the child starts to read and write and do things by their
own. The teachers plays a very important role in promoting sustainable growth of child. One of
the most significant aspects of this stage is that, here the peer group of child becomes a major
factor in the way of determining their self-esteem. Identity vs. Role Confusion is the fifth step of
Erikson's Psychosocial Stage Theory. Such crisis in identity happens during the adolescence
(Meins, Bureau & Fernyhough, 2018). In this stage, people often seek for self-identity by
exploring their personal values and beliefs. In this stage, I have developed a reintegrated self,
which is the key of strengthening self-identity. However, I was uncomfortable with the changes
that happened to my body, with the passage of time. However, I have built a strong sense of
identity at this time which has helped me to mitigate the confusion related to my role in society.
Moore (2017) showed that in order to define this identity crisis, the people might start to
experiment with her life by engaging themselves in different activities. Intimacy vs. Isolation is
the sixth step of Ericson’s framework, which happens in the ages between 18 to 40 years. During
this stage, the degree of conflict in between loving relationship increases. In this stage, people
generally share themselves intimately with others. Generativity vs. Stagnation is the seventh step
of Erikson's Psychosocial Stage, in which the people experience the importance of nurturing the
things, which can make it easy for leading their life consistently. Ego Integrity vs. Despair is the
last step of Ericson’s framework, in which a sense of integrity is being developed by people.

7REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Based on the discussion, it can be concluded by saying that, emotional and cognitive
development of children is a systematic process, which requires several steps. The external
environment of children plays a major role in the way of determining their degree of
development. The culture of a family is also an important factor in shaping the cognitive
development of people.

8REFLECTIVE ESSAY
References:
Bornstein, M. H., & Bradley, R. H. (2014). Socioeconomic status, parenting, and child
development. Routledge.
Greenfield, P. M., & Cocking, R. R. (2014). Cross-cultural roots of minority child development.
Psychology Press.
Kampouri, M., Kyriklaki, A., Roumeliotaki, T., Koutra, K., Anousaki, D., Sarri, K., ... & Chatzi,
L. (2018). Patterns of early‐life social and environmental exposures and child cognitive
development, Rhea Birth Cohort, Crete, Greece. Child development, 89(4), 1063-1073.
Keating, D. P. (2016). Transformative role of epigenetics in child development research:
Commentary on the special section. Child development, 87(1), 135-142.
Kim, U., & Choi, S. H. (2014). Individualism, collectivism, and child development. Cross-
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Luthar, S. S. (2015). Resilience in development: A synthesis of research across five decades.
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Moore, R. C. (2017). Childhood's domain: Play and place in child development. Routledge.
Sampson, R. J. (2017). Family management and child development: Insights from social
disorganization theory. Routledge.
Singer, E. (2017). Child-care and the psychology of development. Routledge.

9REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Trawick-Smith, J. W., & Smith, T. (2014). Early childhood development: A multicultural
perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.