An Ecological Perspective for Teaching About the Adolescent

Abstract

This chapter focuses on an ecological perspective to adolescent development as both a framework and a technique for teaching about the adolescent. U. Bronfenbrenner’s human ecological approach emphasizes environmental and contextual influences on development while considering the importance of social-historical life events. An ecological perspective provides a framework for conceptualizing and framing social problems in a way that all critical factors are, at a minimum, identified. An ecological or developmental contextual perspective to human development and adolescence emphasizes the multiple opportunities throughout the life span for altering or modifying the life course through intervention or individual action. The ecological perspective emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions to understand the dynamic nature of adolescent development. The ecological perspective is helpful not only in understanding the multiple causes of adolescent pregnancy, but also in framing pertinent questions that can assist in the design of interventions to prevent or ameliorate the consequences of adolescent pregnancy.