Ecological Transitions

Ecological transitions are the subject of this section. Bronfenbrenner defines an ecological transition as change in a role or setting or both, each of which changes the person’s position in the ecosystem. Ecological transitions are important in the process of development because the person adapts to them. Each such transition brings new experiences to learn from and leads to potentially new understanding of the environment and new skills and motivations. The author considers the relation between developmental changes, progression to new stages, and ecological transitions. Ecological transitions may be stressful, temporarily hindering development. When transitions occur too quickly, or frequently, the person may experience “adaptation overload,” threatening health as well as development.