An Ecological Approach to Study of the Family

Abstract

An ecological approach for examination of the interdependnece of family and its interacting environments is presented. Attention is given to the function the family plays as an energy transformation system, with particular emphasis on its role in the production of human capital through the building of family and individual competences. These competences are essential for families and individuals to cope with crises and problems on many levels: individual, family, community and societal. Use of an ecological approach can enhance the understanding of the relationship of behavior to environmental conditions and the effects on families of the institutions and the organizations with which they interact. This approach can also provide a framework for design and implementation of imaginative intervention programs and support systems based on knowledge of family/environment interaction.