This essay will explore the ecological theory of development as presented by Urie Bronfenbrenner. Bronfenbrenner’s theory will contribute to the understanding of the influence of poverty and social economic status on a child’s development specifically focusing on schooling. Different aspects of schooling such as access to school, the teaching process, academic performance as well as the relationship with peers and teachers will be analysed. Lastly any critiques of Bronfenbrenner’s theory will be evaluated to access its validity of his theory. Bronfenbrenner was born in Moscow but moved to America when he was only 6 years old (Observer, 2005). Bronfenbrenner served in the army as a psychologist after he graduated (Observer, 2005). During …show more content…
Bronfenbrenner states that the microsystem involves people in an individual’s immediate environment who interact in a bi-directional relationship, known as a dyad, with the individual (Hook, 2009). Bronfenbrenner describes this as a bi-directional relationship because both people present in this relationship will have an affect on one another directly whether positive or negative (Hook, 2009). Therefore when trying to understand the effect of social economic status and poverty on the development of a child’s schooling one could look at the microsystem and analyse the relationship between the teacher and the child as well and between the child and a friend. By looking at these relationships the conclusion could be made that due to the lack of resources present in a low-income school, such as a very large class with only one teacher, the child does not have sufficient face-to-face interaction with the teacher and as a result the child might not get the help they need regarding a subject and this could therefore decrease their academic performance. A child’s relationship with their peers could also be affected due to poverty because the child might not have access to the same material items as other children, therefore it might be hard for children to form relationships and make friends because they could be teased. Therefore, because these children don’t have the support system they need, they will not have a high academic performance and it will be unlikely that they