theoretical perspectives

theory

idea that aims to explain, predict, and understand phenomena

creator of bioecological model

Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner

Bioecological theoryl theoretical frame

understanding of child development must take place in children real-world environment with familiar people over extended durations considering layers of influence over time

Bioecological theory sections

child level, microsystems, mesosystems, exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem

child level

Childs individual skills and motivations

microsystem

immediate environment. Context in which children live and interact with the people and institutions closest to them

mesosystem

interactions between different components of the microsystem

exosystem

collection of setting that impinge on a child’s development but in which child does not play a direct role

macrosystem

surrounds everything. Represents values, ideologies, and laws of the society or culture

chronosystem

time-based dimension that can alter the operation of all other systems

Founder of Dynamic Systems

Esther Thelen (1941-2004)

Dynamic Systems theoretical framework

application of chaos theory. How a pattern emerges, persists, changes and rises through multiple pathways over time

principles of dynamic systems

complex, self organizing, dynamic stability

development complex

Humans are a multicomponent system. Developmental outcomes result from the combined effects of several factors. No one factor is necessary or sufficient on its own

development is self-organizing

what starts out as an aggregation of individual parts with no particular relations may suddenly reproduce patterns in space and regularities over time. Can only occur when systems are both complex and open to flux with the environment.

development has dynamic stability

systems settle into or a few models of behavior. The baseline is the most energy-efficient state but it remains flexible

attractor state

systems settle into or a few models of behavior

how does dysfunction arise?

result of the same developmental processes that led to an adaptive outcome.

strengths of dynamic systems theory

complex, rejects gene/environment dichotomy, expansive framework for understanding, explains stability and change

weaknesses of dynamic systems theory

Constructivist-Interactionist Perspective

foundations on Piagets cognitive constructivism and Vytosky’s socio-cultural learning . Explained in two tenets

first tenet

constant interaction between children and their environment. Baby is born into an environment where it is recipient of care-based interactions

second tenet

child plays a constructive role in igniting, regulating, interpreting and evaluating their interactions with others. Children seek opportunities for themselves

which reaction was Helen Theler inspired by?

Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ)