Bioecological theory, developed by Urie Bron-fenbrenner, consists of a complex system integrating four fundamental components (process, person, context, and time) involved in the course of human development. This entry briefly summarizes the three phases in the development of bioecological theory and presents some of its principal concepts. It focuses on the importance of proximal processes in early childhood, emphasizing the conditions under which they can be predictive of good developmental outcomes for children. It also points out the theory’s importance for public policies.

A Brief History of Bioecological Theory and its Main Concepts

Toward the end of the 20th century, the scientific community was introduced to the final and most current version of bioecological theory. Although some researchers believe that Bronfenbrenner’s main contribution was his book The ...

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