Microsystem: examples include but are not limited to family members, teachers, friends, and neighbors; how do these factors interact with the individual and how does the individual impact these factors?
Mesosystem: this level emphasizes relationships among members of the microsystem, such as the dynamic between parents and the child’s teacher; are there dynamics that play a role in how the individual developed?
Exosystem: here the environment can directly influence the individual, but the individual does not have a reciprocal role; an example would be a parent’s place of employment; what factors within this system impacted the individual?
Macrosystem: this level reflects the cultural influences of the individual, such as their socioeconomic status (SES) or race; again, the individual may not impact this level, but this can influence them; how and why did aspects of the macrosystem impact the individual’s development?
Chronosystem: here the historical context and change over the individual’s lifespan can exact influence, including policy and social norms; for example, the legalization of same-sex marriage may influence an individual’s willingness to be open about their sexual orientation and seek out a family. Utilizing the individual’s age, what historical contexts may help explain the how and why of the individual’s development?
These are just some sample questions you can ask as you evaluate the individual’s development from each level of the ecological theory.
