Final answer:
Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory explains human development as a complex interaction among various environmental systems, with a focus on the interconnected layers from the immediate environment to broader societal factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
A description of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory includes the framework that development occurs through interactions among various environmental systems. These systems range from the immediate, such as family and school, to broader societal and cultural influences. Within this hierarchy, the theory emphasizes relationships between a person's development and the interconnected layers of their environment, from the microsystem to the macrosystem.
It aligns with the concept that development is influenced by multiple levels of the ecological system, including individual, community, and broader societal factors. The interactions within these systems shape a person's development over time. The theory also underscores the importance of considering individual experiences when examining development. For example, differing experiences in education for young African American boys and girls lead to various developmental outcomes, reinforcing the idea that personal meaning from phenomenological experiences plays a crucial role.
Bronfenbrenner's theory intersects with ecology concepts which are organized into nested ecological hierarchies, from the individual to the biosphere, highlighting the complex interactions of living beings within their environments. It supports the view that just as ecosystems consist of biotic and abiotic factors, human development involves both individual biology and external environmental factors. The bioecological model extends these ecological principles to human development.