Ecological Systems Theory

Now Bronfenbrenner might have something to say about random chance or a destiny laid out by God. If I analyze my identity using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory I can give some context to the elements that are shaping my life. Because again, I am not the only person in existence but one of many in my environment bumping into each other and influenceing one another.

Bronfenbrenner's theory lays out five spheres of influence acting on the individual: 1.  Micro-system 2. Meso System 3. Exo-system 4. Macro-system 5. Chrono-system. In closing, let me take a quick look at how each system works in my life.

Micro-system. My microsystem is composed of all the people I interact with directly: my family, friends, co-workers, Facebook friends, students, grocery store clerks, etc. My biggest support group is my family. My parents, and brother are at the core of who I am. Their opinions and pieces of advice play a big role in the choices I make. Part of me felt I was too old to be at the university again but they encouraged me to come. The older I get the more I am able to control to an extent who I let in or out of my micro-system. As a new born I was helpless to control my micro-system. I was blessed to be born into the family I was born into.

Meso-sytem. My meso-system is comprised of the relationships between the elements of my micro-system. For example when my boss, a huge part of my Micro-system, asked me to go to Korea and I agreed, this impacted my family. In a lot of ways the biggest change in how people go about their lives in the early 21st century is peoples relationship to computer networks and social networking sites. Because my friends, family, and I have had to move around so much, because the nature of my job is such that my coworkers are spread about the world, we use the computer to keep us all linked together.

Exo-System. The Exo-system is something I have less if not no control over. For example, my father is a cable splicer for a cable company--has been for 34 years. Growing up, he would sometimes come home beat down, working with many of the same types of men that I worked with as a landscaper. The men at my fathers work shape him and he in turn shapes me. My mother works for the school district: an environment filled with much more positive people who have a more positive outlook on the world. My mom would come home from work much happier than my father and so my parents jobs influenced us at home.

Macro-system. This is perhaps the most interesting system to me and yet the one furthest from my control. Changing economies, technological breakthroughs, waring ideologies, shifting classes and immigration: these are all players in the Macro-system. When the economy stumbled in 2008, I went to Korea to make money. One thing I have really seen happen in just the last 10 years is the world getting smaller and smaller. This is exciting and yet a little scary at the same time.

Chronosystem. My grandfathers were married before they were 20. They didn't have high school educations. One of my grandfathers helped build the highway systems. My father married when he was 25. He has spent his life connecting wires for cable TV and Internet. I am 31, unmarried, and still in school! My grandfather went to Korea to fight in a war. My father was enlisted in the navy in Vietnam. I spent two years teaching children English in Korea. Times have definitely changed. People are marrying later, having kids later, and staying in school longer.