Editing Developmental psychology (section)

===Ecological systems theory===
{{Main|Ecological systems theory}}
[[File:Bronfenbrenner's_Ecological_Theory_of_Development_(English).jpg|thumb|{{center|Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory}}]]
Ecological systems theory, originally formulated by [[Urie Bronfenbrenner]], specifies four types of nested environmental systems, with bi-directional influences within and between the systems. The four systems are microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem. Each system contains roles, norms and rules that can powerfully shape development. The microsystem is the direct environment in our lives such as our home and school. Mesosystem is how relationships connect to the microsystem. Exosystem is a larger social system where the child plays no role. Macrosystem refers to the cultural values, customs and laws of society.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explorable.com/ecological-systems-theory|title=Ecological Systems Theory|website=Explorable Psychology Experiments| vauthors = Sincero SM }}</ref>

The microsystem is the immediate environment surrounding and influencing the individual (example: school or the home setting). The mesosystem is the combination of two microsystems and how they influence each other (example: sibling relationships at home vs. peer relationships at school). The exosystem is the interaction among two or more settings that are indirectly linked (example: a father's job requiring more overtime ends up influencing his daughter's performance in school because he can no longer help with her homework). The macrosystem is broader taking into account social economic status, culture, beliefs, customs and morals (example: a child from a wealthier family sees a peer from a less wealthy family as inferior for that reason). Lastly, the chronosystem refers to the chronological nature of life events and how they interact and change the individual and their circumstances through transition (example: a mother losing her own mother to illness and no longer having that support in her life).<ref name="Edpsych24"/>

Since its publication in 1979, Bronfenbrenner's major statement of this theory, ''The Ecology of Human Development'',<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Bronfenbrenner U | date = 1979 | title = The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design | location = Cambridge, MA | publisher = Harvard University Press | isbn = 0-674-22457-4}}</ref> has had widespread influence on the way psychologists and others approach the study of human beings and their environments. As a result of this conceptualization of development, these environments—from the family to economic and political structures—have come to be viewed as part of the life course from childhood through to adulthood.<ref name="Smith et al.2">{{Cite book|title= Understanding Children's Development |url = https://archive.org/details/understandingchi00smit/mode/2up      |publisher=Blackwell|edition=4|series=Basic psychology|location=Oxford, England| year = 2003 |isbn = 9780631228233 | oclc = 963696734|vauthors = Smith PK, Cowie H, Blades M }}</ref>