Final answer:
The ecological perspective refers to the exosystem, which includes institutions that have an indirect influence on a person, such as large-scale governmental and economic bodies. These institutions can shape behavior and societal trends without direct participation from the individual.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the ecological perspective, the exosystem involves the institutions in which the person does not directly participate but which exert an indirect influence on the person. The exosystem can include governmental bodies, the workplace of a family member, or large social networks which influence an individual's immediate environment or microsystem. Recognizing how large-scale institutions, such as governments and economic systems, impact individual behavior and societal trends is critical in understanding the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems.