Ecology of the Child
Ecology and Child Development
Human ecology
biological, psychological, social, and cultural contexts in which a developing person interacts and the consequent processes (for ex-ample, perception, learning, behavior) that develop over tim
Adaptation
modification of an organism or its behavior to make it more fit for existence under the conditions of the environment
demographics
statistical characteristics of human
populations, such as age, income, and race
economics
(the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services), politics, and technology
Ecology
science of interrelationships between organisms and their environment
Socialization and Child Development
Socialization
process by which individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, and character traits s that enable them to participate as efective members of groups and societ
Socialization as a Unique Human Process
Behavior
thought
language
internalization
process by which externally controlled behavior shifts to internally, or self-regulated, behavior
Socialization as a Reciprocal Dynamic Process
How does the child influence his or her developmental outcomes?
Reciprocal
goes both direction
Dynamic
interactions change over time
Children affect their own developmental outcomes
Biological factors
Socialization agents (biological factors, socialization aims, methods)
children motivate how others treat them
Evocative Genotype-Environmental Interaction
Passive Genotype-Environment Interaction
child's genotype (inherited from) parent's genotype + environment (provided by parents) = developmental outcomes
Child's genotype (elicits) environmental responses = developmental outcomes
Active Genotype-Environmental Interactions
Child's genotype (seeks) compatible environment = developmental outcomes
Temperament
the innate characteristics that determine an individual’s sensitivity to various experiences and responsiveness to patterns of social interaction
Maturation
developmental changes associated with the biological process of aging
Intentional and Unintentional Socialization
Intentional socialization
protection, reciprocity, control, guided learning, group participation
teaching values backed with approval
unintentional socialization
happens spontaneously during human interaction
learn from others behaviors
Change, Challenge, and Socialization
uncertainty with change
can directly impact adults
how adults react can indirectly affect children
Developmentally appropriate
curriculum involves understanding children’s normal growth patterns and individual differences and
exposes kids to active, hands-on, age-appropriate, meaningful experiences
Change and Concept of Childhood
Children now define their own culture
lots to deal with
Change, Adaptation, and Socialization
We can manipulate input to induce desired output
Ex intentional socialization: boys in competition vs boys in cooperation
Ex intentional socialization: kids given lollipop covered in sugar
Not static, socialization is dynamic, transactional, and bidirectional, or reciprocal
Scientific Theory and the Bioecological Model of Human Development: A Major Socialization Theory
Scientific Theory
an organized set of statements that explains observations, integrates different facts or events, and predicts future outcomes
Bioecological
refers to the role organisms play in shaping their environment over time
Ecological System and Socialization
Microsystem
Mesosystem
Ecosystem
Macrosystem
Chronosystem
activities and relationships with significant others experienced by a developing person in a particular small setting such as family, school, peer group, or community (media)
linkages and interrelationships between two or more of a person’s microsystems (for example, home and school, school and community
settings in which children do not actually participate, but which affect them in one of their microsystems (for example, parents’ jobs, the school board, the city council)
the society and subculture to which the developing person belongs, with particular reference to the belief systems, lifestyles, patterns of social interaction, and life changes
society: a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests
ethnicity
a community, nation,or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests
culture
the learned, or acquired, behavior, including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and traditions, that is characteristic of the social environment in which an individual grows up
Low-context macrosystem
culture generally characterized by rationality, practicality, competition, individuality, and progress
High-context macrosystem
culture generally characterized by intuitiveness, emotionality, cooperation, group identity, and tradition
The Chronosystem: Interaction of Ecological Systems over Time z
Chronosystem
involves temporal changes in ecological systems or within individuals, producing new conditions that afrect development.
Can be affected my major events generationally
Effects: The Future
Biotechology
Reconceptualizaiton of societal and individual responsibilities
Information Technology
genetic engineering ethical controversy
Government shifting to more individual responsibility
More choices, advertising, distractions, privacy concerns, etc
Examining the well-being of Children
Family and social environment indicators
economic circumstances indicator
Health care indicators
physical environmental and safety indicators
behavior indicators
education indicators
Heath Indicators