Ecological Systems Theory

COU 510 Theory Worksheet

Overview: You will be submitting this worksheet at the end of Week Two. You should have notes within each column and plan on adding to it throughout the course. This worksheet does not need to go into great detail, but it should have brief notes within the last three columns. (The first four columns may have just a word or phrase.) You can add to the chart throughout the course. By the end of Week One, you should have the following theories filled in to keep you on track.

· Ecological Systems Theory

· Psychoanalytic Theory

· Behaviorism Theory

You will receive feedback on this worksheet and continue to add to it as you learn more about how these developmental theories apply to different aspects of the lifespan. This is also an excellent tool to use as you study for your licensing exam.

Theory	Identifying Characteristics	Associated Theorists	Continuity or Discontinuity	Nature or Nurture	What are the ethical, legal, and cultural concerns?	Describe how this theory applies to different aspects of the lifespan.	How can this theory be applied in the counseling field?
Ecological Systems Theory	Different environments that surround a child i.e. microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, chronosystem	Urie Bronfenbrenner	Continuity	nurture	It examines the effects of the relations between a child and its immediate environment (Ryan, 2001). Also examines the role of culture in the development of a child. The theory states how the society should handle individuals during the different stages of development.	The theory examines the different environments and how they influence the development of a child (Ryan, 2001). This states how an individual develops different characteristics throughout their lifespan.	Counselors can utilize this theory to examine the behavioral development of an individual. They can use this theory to base their advice on different behavioral aspects.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Personality traits i.e. ID, Ego and Super Ego.	Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson	Discontinuity	nurture	Enables understanding of human character (Klein, 1976). Enables control of human relations.	This theory explains the development of human character as they grow (Klein, 1976).	It can be useful to identify the influence of the experiences of individuals in their behavior.
Behaviorism Theory	Behavior and learning. Also associated with responses to stimulus.	John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner	discontinuity	Nurture	Enhancing the learning of behavior, teaches moral behavior and cultural practices (Ormrod & Davis, 2004). Provides legal knowledge to individuals.	Explains how various stimulus influences responses and repetition of the same process leads to the development of behavior (Ormrod & Davis, 2004).	Enables examination of the cause of certain behaviors. Can also be used to correct bad habits developed by individuals through avoiding the stimulus.

References

Klein, G. S. (1976). Psychoanalytic theory: An exploration of essentials. Intl Universities Pr Inc.

Ormrod, J. E., & Davis, K. M. (2004). Human learning. London: Merrill.

Ryan, D. P. J. (2001). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Retrieved January, 9, 2012.