Urie Bronfenbrenner

Urie Bronfenbrenner (April 29, 1917–September 25, 2005) was a renowned psychologist, known for developing his Ecological Systems Theory, and as a co-founder of the Head Start program in the United States for disadvantaged pre-school children. Cornell President Hunter R. Rawlings said of Bronfenbrenner, "Perhaps more than any other single individual, Urie Bronfenbrenner changed America's approach to child rearing and created a new interdisciplinary scholarly field, which he defined as the ecology of human development."

Life

He was the son of Dr. Alexander Bronfenbrenner and Eugenie Kamenetski Bronfenbrenner. At age 6, he came to the United States. After a brief stay in Pittsburgh, the family settled in Letchworth Village, the home of the New York State Institution for the Mentally Retarded, where his father worked as a clinical pathologist and research director.

After his graduation from Haverstraw High School, Bronfenbrenner attended Cornell University, where he completed a double major in psychology and music in 1938. He went on to graduate work in developmental psychology, completing an M.A. at Harvard University, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1942. Twenty-four hours after receiving his doctorate he was inducted into the Army, where he served as a psychologist in a variety of assignments for the Army Air Corps and the Office of Strategic Services. After completing officer training he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

Immediately after World War II, Bronfenbrenner worked briefly as Assistant Chief Clinical Psychologist for Administration and Research for the Veterans' Administration, before beginning his work as Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Michigan. In 1948, he accepted a professorship in Human Development, Family Studies and Psychology at Cornell University. In the late 1960s to early 1970s, Bronfenbrenner served as a faculty-elected member of Cornell's Board of Trustees. At his death, Bronfenbrenner was the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Human Development and of Psychology in the Cornell University College of Human Ecology.

With his wife Liese, Urie Bronfenbrenner had six children: Beth Soll, Ann Stambler, Mary Bronfenbrenner, Michael Bronfenbrenner, Kate Bronfenbrenner, and Steven Bronfenbrenner. Beth Soll, who resides in New York City, is a choreographer, dancer,writer, who teaches at Hofstra University, Columbia University, and Manhattanville College. His daughter, Ann Stambler is a psychiatric social worker in Newton, MA. Mary Bronfenbrenner teaches German in the Ithaca Public School system. Michael Bronfenbrenner lives in Seal Beach, California and works as a video artist/professional. Kate Bronfenbrenner, is the Director of Labor Education Research at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Steven Bronfenbrenner directs an arts administration company in San Francisco, California.

Work

Ecological Systems Theory

Generally regarded as one of the world's leading scholars in the field of developmental psychology, Bronfenbrenner's primary contribution was his Ecological Systems Theory, in which he delineated four types of nested systems. He called these the microsystem (such as the family or classroom); the mesosytem (which is two microsystems in interaction); the exosystem (external environments which indirectly influence development, e.g., parental workplace); and the macrosystem (the larger socio-cultural context). He later added a fifth system, called the Chronosystem (the evolution of the external systems over time). Each system contains roles, norms and rules that can powerfully shape development.

The major statement of this theory, The Ecology of Human Development (1979), has had widespread influence on the way psychologists and other social scientists approach the study of human beings and their environments. It has been said that before Bronfenbrenner, child psychologists studied the child, sociologists examined the family, anthropologists the society, economists the economic framework of the times, and political scientists the political structure.

As a result of Bronfenbrenner's groundbreaking work in "human ecology," these environments, from the family to economic and political structures, have come to be viewed as part of the life course from childhood through adulthood. The "bioecological" approach to human development broke down barriers among the social sciences, and built bridges between the disciplines that have allowed findings to emerge about which key elements in the larger social structure, and across societies, are vital for optimal human development.

Ecological Systems Theory, also called "Development in Context" or "Human Ecology" theory, specifies four types of nested environmental systems, with bi-directional influences within and between the systems. The theory was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, generally regarded as one of the world's leading scholars in the field of developmental psychology.

The four systems:

• Microsystem: Immediate environments (family, school, peer group, neighborhood, and childcare environments)
• Mesosystem: A system comprised of connections between immediate environments (i.e., a child’s home and school)
• Exosystem: External environmental settings which only indirectly affect development (such as parent's workplace)
• Macrosystem: The larger cultural context (Eastern vs. Western culture, national economy, political culture, subculture)

Later a fifth system was added:

• Chronosystem: The patterning of environmental events and transitions over the course of life.

The person's own biology may be considered part of the microsystem; thus the theory has recently sometimes been called "Bio-Ecological Systems Theory."

Each system contains roles, norms, and rules that can powerfully shape development. For example, an inner-city black family faces many challenges which an affluent white family in a gated community does not, and vice versa. The inner-city black family is more likely to experience environmental hardships, such as teratogens and crime. The sheltered white family on the other hand is more likely to lack the nurturing support of extended family. According to the ecological theory, if the relationships in the immediate microsystem break down, the child will not have the tools to explore other parts of his environment. Children looking for the affirmations that should be present in the child/parent (or child/other important adult) relationship look for attention in inappropriate places. These deficiencies show themselves especially in adolescence as anti-social behavior, lack of self-discipline, and inability to provide self-direction.

Since its publication in 1979, Bronfenbrenner's major statement of this theory, The Ecology of Human Development has had widespread influence on the way psychologists and others approach the study of human beings and their environments. As a result of his groundbreaking work in "human ecology," these environments—from the family to economic and political structures—have come to be viewed as part of the life course from childhood through adulthood.

Bronfenbrenner has identified Soviet developmental psychologist Lev Vygotsky and German-born psychologist Kurt Lewin as important influences on his theory.

Bronfenbrenner's work provides one of the foundational elements of the Ecological counseling Perspective, as espoused by Bob Conyne, Ellen Cook, and the University of Cincinnati Counseling Program.

Later Years

He spent many of his later years warning that the process that makes human beings human is breaking down as disruptive trends in American society produce ever more chaos in the lives of America's children. "The hectic pace of modern life poses a threat to our children second only to poverty and unemployment," he said. "We are depriving millions of children — and thereby our country — of their birthright … virtues, such as honesty, responsibility, integrity and compassion."

The gravity of the crisis, he warned, threatens the competence and character of the next generation of adults — those destined to be the first leaders of the 21st century. "The signs of this breakdown are all around us in the ever growing rates of alienation, apathy, rebellion, delinquency and violence among American youth," he said. Yet, Bronfenbrenner added: "It is still possible to avoid that fate. We now know what it takes to enable families to work the magic that only they can perform. The question is, are we willing to make the sacrifices and the investment necessary to enable them to do so?"

Legacy

His widely-published contributions have won him honors and distinguished awards both at home and abroad. He holds six honorary degrees, three of them from European universities. The most recent American award(1996), henceforth to be given annually in his name, is for "Lifetime Contribution to Developmental Psychology in the service of Science and Society," also known as "The Bronfenbrenner Award." Other awards and positions include:

• The James McKeen Catell Award from the American Psychological Society
• Chair, 1970 White House Conference on Children

His theoretical model transformed the way many social and behavioral scientists approached the study of human beings and their environments. It led to new directions in basic research and to applications in the design of programs and policies affecting the well-being of children and families both in the United States and abroad.

He was a lifelong advocate for children and is thought of as the father of Head Start, the longest-running program for stopping the cycle of poverty in the United States. It provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. As of late 2007, more than 24 million pre-school aged children have participated in Head Start. The $6.8+ billion dollar budget for 2006 provided services to more than 909,000 children, 57% of whom were four years old or older, and 43% three years old or younger. Services were provided by 1,604 different programs operating more than 50,000 classrooms scattered across every state (and nearly every county) at an average cost of $7,209 per child.

Cornell President Hunter R. Rawlings said of Bronfenbrenner, "Perhaps more than any other single individual, Urie Bronfenbrenner changed America's approach to child rearing and created a new interdisciplinary scholarly field, which he defined as the ecology of human development. His association with Cornell spanned almost 60 years, and his legacy continues through Cornell's Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center and through the generations of students to whom he was an inspiring teacher, mentor and friend."

Publications

• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1972). Two Worlds of Childhood. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-671-21238-9
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1973). Influencing Human Development. Holt, R & W. ISBN 0-03-089176-0
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1975). Two Worlds of Childhood: US and USSR. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-081104-4
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1975). Influences on Human Development. Holt, R & W. ISBN 0-03-089413-1
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-22457-4
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1981). On Making Human Beings Human. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7619-2712-3
• Myers, R. & Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). The Twelve Who Survive: Strengthening Programmes of Early Childhood Development in the Third World. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-07307-3

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-22457-4
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1981). On Making Human Beings Human. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7619-2712-3
• Myers, R. & Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). The Twelve Who Survive: Strengthening Programmes of Early Childhood Development in the Third World. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-07307-3

External links

• Key Theorists/Theories in Psychology - Urie Bronfenbrenner, "The PSI Cafe, A psychology resource site" at Portland State University. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
• Cornell News Release on Bronfenbrenner's Death. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
• Ecological Systems Theory.
• Urie Bronfenbrenner Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
• Overview of Systems Model. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
• Quotations from Urie Bronfenbrenner Retrieved September 29, 2007.
• Making Human Beings Human: Bioecological Perspectives on Human Development by Urie Bronfenbrenner on Google Books. Retrieved September 29, 2007.
• Urie Bronfenbrenner authors new work: 'Making Human Beings Human' by Susan S. Lang Retrieved September 29, 2007.
• Growing Chaos in the Lives of Children Youth and Families: How Can We Turn It Around? by Urie Bronfenbrenner on Parenthood in America Retrieved September 29, 2007.
• Urie Bronfenbrenner; theories altered approach to child development; at 88 by Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times September 29, 2005. Retrieved September 29, 2007.

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