Introduction
The idea of Ecological Systems Theory was formed by the work of Urie Bronfenbrenner during 1940s on friendship patterns and childhood. For many years, several foundations were laid that led to the culmination of the ecological theory. Ecological theory was built in a nested structure that resembles Russian dolls. In the structure of this theory, there are five layers that are arranged from the closest to the farthest. These five layers include microsystem, exosystem, mesosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem. It would be important to note that these systems have got continuous effects on an individual’s development process. Another thing that is important to be noted about this theory has got its strengths and weaknesses.
This paper explores strengths and weaknesses of the ecological systems theory.
Strengths of Ecological Theory
The most noted strength of the ecological theory is that it deals with the living things based on their natural environment instead in an artificial isolation. This is because there are branches of biology that mainly concentrate on given aspects of organisms and for this matter may lose the truth of interrelationships and connections that are quite important for understanding life in its totality. In addition to that, ecology on its own nature for focusing on the ground by which organisms develops and operates; brings together different of disciplines. It is also important to remember that evolution which offers a common structure in the study of biology; this can only be entirely appreciated entirely from the ecological era point of populations interrelating with their environment. The other important thing about the ecological theory has shown that biochemistry, systematic, molecular biology and even anatomy become fully focused on when is used for the analysis of ecosystems. Put in a more practical level, different studies on the already there ecosystems has necessitated the conservation movements and promote the active effort to care of ecosystems, or better still for those animals and plants that are facing the possible danger of becoming extinct. The theory has highlighted the significance of individual differences that are there in each child during his or her development. This has played a key role on how people view and assist that child who experiences barriers during learning process.
The other strength of this theory shows growth from reductionist to holistic. This theory offers theoretical and also research framework where by which the influence of the environment as a whole or better still holistically can be factored in the process of human developments. This has enabled the entire generation of scientists to look deeply into and inclusively at forces of acting on children. The other strength of this theory is that sharing is caring. This theory that was developed Urie Bronfenbrenner can be used together with other theories to complement the level of explanation to supplement and support the individualists accounts of psychological development. The theory has highlighted the significance of individual differences that are there in each child during his or her development. This has played a key role on how people view and assist that child who experiences barriers during learning process.
Weaknesses of the Ecological systems Theory
The possible weakness of the ecology systems originates from the wider spectrum of its main concerns that it tends to diffuse. Most of individual ecologists mainly focus on a given aspects of communities or better still the physical environment, however, the starters may find it quite hard or daunting on its own breadth. In the recent past, there has been emphasis on the experimentation that tends to promote specialization in the field; nevertheless, experimentation brings another danger. For the case of experimentation, controlled conditions might not be readily available in the field situation.
