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Making Human Beings Human
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Making Human Beings Human
Bioecological Perspectives on Human Development

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July 2004 | 336 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

"Making Human Beings Human tells the remarkable scientific story of Urie Bronfenbrenner's journey toward 'a bioecology of human development'- a dynamic perspective of individuals in ever-changing, multi-level contexts. Building upon years of distinguished teaching and research at Cornell, the author skillfully weaves each part of his story together, highlighting the puzzles and fresh insights that enhance understanding. This is a marvelous book to read and cherish from one of our giants in the field of human development."

-Glen H. Elder, University of North Carolina

"This volume is a remarkable compilation of several critical writings of one of the most influential developmental psychologists of the 20th, and now 21st, century. Making Human Beings Human is an essential reader for all students of human development, whether they are undergraduates, graduate students, teachers, practitioners, or policy makers. . . . To read this book is to be a passenger on an exhilarating six-decade-long journey of discovery which, for those interested in the landscape of human development, is every bit as exciting as a Lewis and Clark expedition."

-John Eckenrode, Cornell University

To a greater extent than any other species, human beings create the environments that, in turn, shape their own development. Given this, Making Human Beings Human: Bioecological Perspectives on Human Development endeavors to demonstrate that human beings can also develop those environments to optimize their most constructive genetic potentials. What makes human beings human, therefore, is both the potential to shape their world in intricate physical, social, technological, and cultural ways and the possibility that these actions will nurture positive development.

Making Human Beings Human is a landmark collection that traces and summarizes Urie Bronfenbrenner's thoughts on the bioecological theory of human development and recommends avenues for future research. The majority of the twenty-three retrospective articles were written by Bronfenbrenner, while some were written with colleagues in his own or related fields, over the course of six decades. The book's articles document the domain of inquiry that has emerged gradually over many years and has now acquired a title of its own-the bioecological theory of human development.

The book is rich in cultural and historical comparisons, and the concepts of the bioecological model and the ecology of human development represent a unique contribution to the field of developmental psychology. As a co-founder of the Head Start program, Bronfenbrenner has played a major role in shaping many educational and public policies; therefore the book emphasizes social context within the bioecological theory.

Making Human Beings Human is a culminating work by a prominent figure in the field of human development and will help to shape the future of the field. It is an invaluable resource for every developmental psychologist, educator, and public policy individual involved with families and education. The book is also an excellent supplementary text for courses in Psychology, Family Studies and Human Development, Human Ecology, Education, and Public Policy.


 
Acknowledgements
 
Dedication
Richard M. Lerner
Foreword
 
Introduction
 
Section I: ON THE NATURE OF BIOECOLOGICAL THEORY AND RESEARCH
 
Section Introduction
 
Article 1. The Bioecological Theory of Human Development (2001)
 
Article 2. Social Ecology over Time and Space (1995)
 
Article 3. Social Status, Structure, and Development in the Classroom Group (1942)
 
Article 4. Social Ecology of Human Development (1973)
 
Article 5. Lewinian Space and Ecological Substance (1977)
 
Article 6. A Future Perspective (1979)
 
Article 7. Toward a Critical History of Development. A Propaedeutic Discussion (1986)
 
Article 8. Interacting Systems in Human Development. ResearchParadigms: Present and Future (1988)
 
Article 9. Developing Ecology (1989)
 
Article 10. Ecological Systems Theory (1992)
 
Article 11. Heredity, Environment and the Question "How." A First Approximation (1993)
 
Section II: USING THE ECOLOGY OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TO ENHANCE THE HUMAN CONDITION
 
Section Introduction
 
Article 12. Growing Chaos in the Lives of Children and Families. How Can We Turn it Around? (2001)
 
Article 13. The Split Level American Family (1967)
 
Article 14. Minority Report of Forum 15- 1970 White House Conference on Children (1970)
 
Article 15. Two Worlds of Childhood: U.S. and U.S.S.R. (1970)
 
Article 16. Is 80% of Intelligence Genetically Determined? (1975)
 
Article 17. The Future of Childhood (1985)
 
Article 18. Strengthening Family Systems (1988)
 
Article 19. Child Care in the Anglo-Saxon Mode (1992)
Stephen F. Hamilton and Stephen J. Ceci
Afterword


"Making Human Beings Human tells the remarkable scientific story of Urie Bronfenbrenner's journey toward 'a bioecology of human development'- a dynamic perspective of individuals in ever-changing, multi-level contexts. Building upon years of distinguished teaching and research at Cornell, the author skillfully weaves each part of his story together, highlighting the puzzles and fresh insights that enhance understanding. This is a marvelous book to read and cherish from one of our giants in the field of human development."

Glen H. Elder
University of North Carolina

"This volume is a remarkable compilation of several critical writings of one of the most influential developmental psychologists of the 20th, and now 21st, century. Making Human Beings Human is an essential reader for all students of human development, whether they are undergraduates, graduate students, teachers, practitioners, or policy makers. . . . To read this book is to be a passenger on an exhilarating six-decade-long journey of discovery which, for those interested in the landscape of human development, is every bit as exciting as a Lewis and Clark expedition."

John Eckenrode
Cornell University

In his latest book, Dr. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of human development offers an important framework upon which to examine the effectiveness of our early childhood policies, programs, and practices on the lives of America’s children and families. In the unfolding of his theory, we find evidence that what, when, and how we do our work does make a critical difference in the developmental outcomes of young children and their families, especially those who are most vulnerable. As a result, we are honor bound to examine our own beliefs and practices in whatever field we find ourselves in the realm of human development work to ensure that our approaches respect and recognize the unlimited potential of all human beings and provide the resources and support that all families need to engage in healthy and productive lives.

Evelyn Moore
National Black Child Development Institute

For MA students this is a useful text for getting to grips with Brofenbrenner and his commitment to the ecological approach. It could be used to dip into for students who have some interest or are writing an essay/dissertation in this field.

Ms SUKEY TARR
Department of Health and Social Care, Royal Holloway, University of London
September 30, 2013

A good introduction to the work of Bronfenbrenner - useful themes and discussions throughout

Miss Charlotte Jones
Warwick Institute of Education, Warwick University
July 23, 2013

A text for those interested in the work of Bronfrenbrenner. Challenging read and for those studying at level 6-8.

Miss Alyson Lewis
Newport School of Education, University of Wales, Newport
June 14, 2013

Teaching child and adolescent development, instructed the students to consider Bronfenbrenner ecological model to apply in assessment. useful book, reasonable read, model good to use as critique against say piaget or vygotsky.

Geana Wallace
Social Work (Hull), Lincoln University
March 17, 2013

Interesting assertions, but 'off topic' for the course module

Mrs Carrie Foster
Business School, Chester University
July 14, 2012

A fascinating set of perspectives through which to view human development. Trainee teachers can learn much from this collection of historical articles, charting the evolution of human developmental theories over time. Bronfenbrenner's system offers a unique viewpoint on what it is to be human, what socio-economic challenges we face and how we can overcome them, drawing on studies over seventy years.

Mr David Leask
Education , University of Manchester
February 6, 2012

This book gives a detailed explanation of the importance of Bronfenbrenner on human development.

Ms Julie Burton
School of Health & Social Care, Lincoln University
July 5, 2011
Key features

This book provides the culminating work and statement by a towering figure in the field of human development, a statement that will help to shape the future of that field.  In particular, it shows the historical development of the bioecological model and the ecology of human development.

Because of the emphasis on social context within the bioecological theory (and Bronfenbrenner's role in shaping educational and public policies, for instance, as a co-founder of the Head Start program), the book has relevance across disciplines, including psychology, human ecology, human development and family studies, education, and public policy.

The book is rich in cultural and historical comparisons.  The concepts of the bioecological model and the ecology of human development represent a unique contribution to the field of developmental psychology.

Features contributions and commentary by distinguished scholars:  a Foreword by Richard M. Lerner of Tufts University and an Afterword by Stephen F. Hamilton and Stephen J. Ceci of Cornell University.