![]() ![]() Economic ConditionsĮconomic conditions prevailing in a society are also an important macrosystem that shape a child’s psycho-social development.Ĭonsider, for instance, the economic conditions under early capitalism in industrial England of the 19th century. On the other hand, a child growing up in a militaristic society, such as that of ancient Sparta, would be shaped by a completely different macrosystem in which violence is the norm, and would consequently follow a different developmental trajectory. If the state promotes affirmative action policies, welfare and healthcare for all, tolerance, and pluralism, then these are likely to influence the child’s own attitude towards humans in general. The political systems that we grow up in act as macrosystems, influencing the development of ourselves.įor instance, a child growing up in a socialist welfare state is likely to embrace the political values espoused by the people around them. These may differ widely from the values that shape another child born in Afghanistan, for example. Similarly, a child born in Japan is likely to be influenced by a specific set of values endemic to Japanese society. Recent historical research has suggested that this may have been one reason behind greater British casualties in the disaster (Marks, 2009).Ĭonsequently, a child growing up in Britain is likely to be influenced by such national traits and values. The captain of the Titanic is reported to have famously shouted “Be British” at the passengers as the ship sank, exhorting them to show stoicism in the face of impending doom. We talk of nations having distinct national cultures and national values that shape our social development.įor instance, having a “stiff upper lip” is a phrase used to describe the British, referring to a perceived national character of being taciturn and exercising self-restraint in the face of adversity (Capstick & Clegg, 2013).Ĭertain other behaviors and ways of expressing oneself may be considered “un-British”. Wherever in the world we may travel to, we tend to compare the culture of the place with that of our own country. Nationality is one of the most fundamental markers of a person’s identity. A child growing up in an Andean rural community in South America is shaped by a different macrosystem than another child growing up in suburban New York. Looking at a child’s macrosystem can help us understand ways in which a child’s personality has been shaped.ĭifferent societies have different cultural norms and values that children learn. Thus, the macrosystem in Bronfenbrenners’s ecological perspective refers to the larger socio-cultural context in which a child grows up. To take a macro view of something connotes taking a long view. The word ‘macro’ is derived from the Greek ‘makros’ meaning ‘long’. The macrosystem is the fourth level in Bronfenbrenner’s 5-tiered model of child development called the ecological systems model. References What is Bronfenbrenner’s Macrosystem?
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