Childhood Development: A Reflective Analysis Using Ecological Theory

This essay is a reflective journal entry applying Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory to the author's childhood experiences. It delves into the microsystem, describing early family and school life, including relationships with parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. The mesosystem explores the interactions between these environments, such as parental involvement in school activities. The exosystem discusses the impact of the parents' work life and family vacations, while the macrosystem reflects on ethnic heritage, cultural values, and the socio-economic context of the time, including the Vietnam War's aftermath. Finally, the chronosystem touches upon the evolving roles of women and the family's economic struggles, providing a comprehensive overview of how these interconnected systems shaped the author's development. Desklib offers similar essays and study tools for students.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Topic: PSYCHOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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The ecological systems theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner critically explained
the fact that the external environment of a child positively helps in the upbringing of the child
(Ashiabi, Godwin and Keri). The theory has mentioned that a child deals with four different
environment that include the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem and the macrosystem
(Rosa, Edinete and Jonathan). In this reflective journal, I am going to connect my childhood
to the theory and describe my experiences across each level of the environment.
Microsystem: This system can be defined as the immediate environment where the
child is exposed to after birth and includes, the family as well as the school environment of
the child. In this regard, I would like to mention that my childhood had not really been a
happy one. My family comprises of my mom, dad and my little brother. My brother is 2 years
younger to me. As a child, I remember my parents did not really like me and they shared a
strenuous relationship with them. I was screamed at and reprimanded for every little mistake
committed by me. I went to a play school that was located within the neighbourhood and I
was an introvert kid who preferred to sit alone in one corner of the class. However, my
teacher made me sit next to Mathew, who was extremely talkative and that is how I got my
first friends. My class mates were friendly and I absolutely loved my school. Our teacher,
Miss Nichole was vibrant and would tell us stories in class and would make us play games.
Mathew was very jovial and had many friends and at lunch break we would all play together
and sing songs. Sometimes, Miss Nichole would read us the Jungle Book and every Friday
she would make us watch a Disney Movie. However, on returning home the scenario was just
the opposite. My parents were always arguing and blaming each other. I did not like it and
would often cry myself to sleep.
Mesosystem: This system can be defined as the close interaction between the different
environment systems in order to positively contribute towards the upbringing of the child.
Well, this would be time when my little brother was born and my mother would often be busy

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feeding him and taking care of him. My father was always busy and arrived home really late.
I had to manage my homework by myself. My parents were too busy either with my brother
or arguing with each other and hence they could not really help me with my studies. We had
remedial classes at school and I would often rely upon those classes for my exams. Also,
Mathew helped me with Science and Math. The only interaction my parents had with my
teacher and group of friends were either on Sports Day or on PTA. They would greet my
friends formally and would pay attention to the teacher’s comment. If it was positive, I was
appreciated and would be recognized with an ice-cream on our way back home. However, if
the comments were negative, I would be punished and reprimanded. I remember I really liked
painting and that helped me maintain composure and forget about the harsh words my parents
spoke to me for a negative result.
Exosystem:We belonged to a working class family. My father used to take us on
vacations during our summer and winter holidays. Winter vacations were short trips either to
the beach or the nearby scenic places. We were total four members and used to travel
whenever my father got days off from his hectic schedule at work. We remember the
experiences as we used to build sandcastles at the beach and often had fun playing sports and
related activities with our parents. For the short trips there were family picnics. We even went
hiking, camping at night taking in the scenery around us as much as could. During our
childhood we were a strong united family of four members. There was no such
misunderstanding between our parents and we lived as a happy family. However we had to
go through the traumatic phase when our parents got separated following by arguments which
were never resolved ultimately leading to their separation.
Macro system: Coming to our ethnic heritage, we belong to a non-conservative
family. Our nation is well known for the diversity in ethnicity leading to the formation of
various ethnic groups. We belong to the traditional white community as per the six categories

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and divisions laid by the consensus of US out of the various distinct ethnic groups seen across
Africa, South America, and Asia. We are originally Christians following rules of Christianity.
We have followed Christianity over the years and belong to the native group of Protestants
whose majority is there in our country. We are from a working class family where my father
was out of the home most of the times due various official procedures. We lived in a small
city near the suburbs of California. Generally we belonged to the typical middle class
families where most of our earnings come from joined effort of my father. We lived at the
times when the Vietnam War had just ended and we were victims of the effects it had on the
lives of the people as well as the economic crisis faced by the nation due to ever-increasing
expenses of the war. The war had started under the rule of President Sir John F Kennedy.
After his sudden assassination it was passed under the authority of President Lynndon B.
Johnson we spent our childhood under his leadership.
Chronosystem: At that time, my parents struggled to keep the economic status of the
family stable whereas most of the women did not leave their homes ad were housewives.
However, with passing times, women started being independent and eventually we got
adjusted to the concept of working mothers. My mother was a doting wife as well as a loving
housewife who always struggled to make ends meet.
Thus, overall we had a peaceful childhood enjoying with my parents and my brother
aligning with the systems as proposed by Ms Urie Bronfenbrennor. The various systems
including our religious faiths and the struggling times we had due to the after effects of the
war is worth remembering.

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References:
Ashiabi, Godwin S., and Keri K. O’Neal. "Child social development in context: An
examination of some propositions in Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory." Sage Open 5.2
(2015): 2158244015590840.
Rosa, Edinete Maria, and Jonathan Tudge. "Urie Bronfenbrenner's theory of human
development: Its evolution from ecology to bioecology." Journal of Family Theory &
Review 5.4 (2013): 243-258.