Question

Describe Bronfenbrenner’s Theory and evaluate its connections to Role Strain and Parenthood with single parents versus two parent households with current societal examples.

i need to write a one page paper by 9:30

Answer 1

Urie Bronfenbrenner a Russian American psychologist developed the "Ecological Systems Theory" to explain the role of environment in shaping the life of a child, and how individual effect their surroundings. He explained this interaction by categorizing the environment or ecology into five systems as Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, Macrosystem, and Chronosystem.

Role strain theory explains the strains and stresses of an individual when they play different role in their lives simultaneously. It also describes the difficulties faced by individuals while transitioning from one role to another. There are certain expectations associated with each role in an Individual's life. Strain occurs when individuals feels or are unable to meet these expectations and goals related to their roles. Single parents would face a lot of difficulties when compared to two parents households.

The interconnection between Bronfenbrenner's theory, Role strain and Parenthood with single parents versus two parent households are:

• Microsystem: The immediate surroundings as family, peers, teachers, neighbors are included in this system. This is primary system with which a child interacts and is directly influenced. In the single parent households the responsibility of the child is fully on one parent, they are the only caregiver for their child. This creates constant emotional strain in their life especially if they don't have enough economic and social support to carry out their duties and play no their role responsibly. This directly effects the every aspect of their child's development negatively. The two parent households too may face some difficulty in carrying out their role, as they may have some difficulty deciding their responsibilities, but if they have good mutual understanding, the problem is solved. The child will receive all the care under such circumstance for their optimal development.
  • Example- Single households headed by poor single mothers face a lot of difficulties in the upbringing of their children when compared to the poor two parents households in the upbringing of their children.
• Mesosystem: The relationship between various components of the microsystem as between the family and school of a child, and its influence on the development of the child is explained under this system. A single parent find difficulty to interact with various components of the microsystem and balance their role as the primary caregivers. The dual parent households with good mutual understanding won't find much difficulty in balancing these interactions and roles.
  • Example- The single parent find difficulty to attend the parent-teacher meetings of their child's school because they have to play the role of sole earner for the family. This negligence on the part of the parent negatively influence the academic progress of the child. The dual parent households could better carryout these roles, but it depends who takes their role. Conflict arises when both the parents avoid taking up their role in actively participating and interacting with the school and teachers of their child. This will negatively impact the academic progress of their child.
• Exosystem: The indirect influence of societal institutions on a child's development is explained in this category. As work place environment influence the lives of parents which influence their behavior with the child.
  • If the workplace environment of the parents is suitable, that is they get enough time to look after the needs of their child, it positively influences the development of the child. But when the workplace environment demands constant traveling or more duty hours, it means absence of parents in child's life. This impacts bonding between the parent-child negatively. This is equally applicable to both the single and the dual parent households.
• Macrosystem: The influence of socio-cultural elements in the individual lives are described by this system.
  • The norms and values of the society views negatively the single parent households. This creates tension and strains in carrying out the roles in such households. The norms regarding gender roles may create tension regarding their part to play in the dual parent households. The norms of a patriarchial society would want the females to be the primary caregivers, would expect them to give more importance to their children than men, and also would expect them to give up their career goals. This creates tension and confusion regarding the roles in dual parent households negatively effecting the child's development and progress.
• Chronosystem: The influence of transition of various situations is explained under this system. The experiences of child when they go through a transition in life and the impact in shaping their life is explained.
  • Single parent households where children has to face physical abuse from their parents due to constant tension in their work life or has to face a situation where the parent is a drug addict develop low self-esteem and are vulnerable to follow their parents in aggression and addiction. Similarly, in dual households when the parents are at constant strife in their relationship, are addicted to alcohol or drugs face the similar problems.