Explain which type of system this scenario represents, based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework for Human Development. Situation: An individual lives in a state that recently voted in new laws allowing same-sex couples to enjoy the same privileges as heterosexual couples, especially to get married and be recognized as a legitimate union. While this heterosexual individual has been happily married to his wife for ten years, he realizes this law represents a “new norm” within his particular community and society.

Explanation:

Micro Systems

Micro systems are the subsystems equivalent of the settings a person lives in. These subsystems include the institutions and relevant groups that influence a person (such as family, peers, schools, members of religious organizations, etc.).

The individual is the core of this model, and the micro systems level is the closest level to the subject. Micro systems are the structures with which a person has direct contact. The people that interact with the core, activities, events, and social roles are the elements that construct the subsystems settings. The core helps to construct the microsystem through developing relations with its environment, meaning that the relationships between the core and its environment(s) are bi-directional (away from the individual and toward the individual). On the micro systems level, bi-directional influences have the greatest impact on a person; however, inner-level structures can still be affected by outer levels.

Meso Systems

Meso systems are systems of micro systems; they are the relationships between micro systems. Micro systems are interconnected and relate to each other. The power of meso systems are in the connections between multiple systems in which, for example, family, children, and parents live. These subsystems help to push beyond standard two-party relationships and are about the ever expansion of circles—meaning relationship expansions upon relationship expansions. They permeate every dimension of a subject’s life. Families without strong meso systems are usually enveloped in chaos.

Exo Systems

Exo systems are the subsystems in which the person is subject to the environment surrounding them, meaning the individual has had no active participation in determining their environment(s), but the environment(s) influence(s) the person directly. This layer is defined by larger social systems. For example, government creates schools for children, thus implementing a micro system.

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