Understanding and Teaching Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory: Beyond the Rings

Clarifying misinterpretations of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory and offering a fresh perspective, this insightful book provides practical guidance for scholars on effectively teaching Bronfenbrenner’s theory at both undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as applying it in research and practice.

The book traces the evolution of Bronfenbrenner’s theory of human development, from its original ecological framework of the 1970s to the fully developed bioecological theory and the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model. Key concepts such as macrosystemic influences are clarified, and innovative adaptations like inverse proximal process and neo-ecological theory are explored, addressing how virtual and digital contexts shape human development.

The book offers adaptable strategies for applying Bronfenbrenner’s theory across a range of disciplines, demonstrating its versatility in undergraduate and graduate courses as well as in research. It includes practical teaching tools such as in-class activities, lecture slides and notes, reading primers, case studies, and discussion questions, equipping instructors with everything needed to teach Bronfenbrenner’s theory and its recent adaptations accurately and effectively.

This resource is indispensable for instructors, researchers, and students eager to understand and apply the theory, as well as for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of human development in today’s complex, interconnected world.

Jessica Navarro, MSW, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Human Service Studies department at Elon University in North Carolina, USA. She holds a BA in Public Health from Brown University, an MSW from Washington University in St. Louis, and a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from UNC Greensboro. Jess can be reached at jnavarro2@elon.edu or through her website, www.jnavarromswphd.com.

Jonathan Tudge was educated in England, at the Universities of Lancaster (BA History) and Oxford (MPhil Sociology), and the United States, at Cornell University (PhD Developmental Psychology). He worked as a teacher of young children in England and Russia, before becoming a Professor (now Emeritus) of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Jon can be reached at jrtudge@uncg.edu