Analysis Of Urie Bonfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory

In the 1970s, psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner created the Ecological Systems Theory to explore the notion that a child as an individual and their development is affected by particular environments and relationships during their lifetime. Each individual develops within five major levels: the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem (McWhirter, et al., 2013). The ecological model provides a “good foundation” in understanding the impact of our environment on the way we develop into adults (2013). Another model that provides a measure of impact is the metaphorical ‘At-Risk’ Tree model as presented by McWhirter et al. The ‘At-Risk’ model uses a hypothetical tree to indicate the various areas of a person's life and the factors that can put them at risk (McWhirter, et al., 2013). Together, these models are both organized systems that explain the complex levels of an individual’s development.
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I developed a close relationship with one of my principals in elementary school, and she became very close with my mother as well. She always looked out for me and made sure my brother and I were doing what we were supposed to during the day. One day, she was suddenly relieved from her duty as principal for reasons I am still not aware of to this day. I was negatively impacted as I developed anxiety over not having a close adult who influenced me in a positive way look over me while I was in school away from my mother. This situation produced ‘damaged fruit’ as described by the ‘At-Risk’ tree model, as I had developed anxiety at a very young age (McWhirter et al., 2016). I was bullied a lot as a child, so to have my ‘protective’ principal away from me placed me at-risk for anti-social behavior, which did develop even further as an