Introduction
A significant number of theories tend to explore and define peculiarities of human behavior and the triggers that influence it. One of the most common approaches relates to the willingness to understand how the external environment affects the person and their behavioral patterns. Among them, one should highlight the theory by the psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner.
This scientist’s development assumes the studying and defining primary peculiarities of how such parts of the environment as peers, family, or schools impact the individual and their behavior. The film Whiplash can bring one significant idea regarding how the person interacts and is influenced by society by stating essential relationships between students and teachers.
Socioecological Theory
To begin with, it will be vital to consider the theory by Urie Bronfenbrenner and how it is applied in the context of social science. Particular attention should be paid to the division of different sub-systems that represent specific roles (Shelton, 2018). For example, the first one is Microsystem, which describes the process of how the environment influences an individual directly (Thelamour & Chu, 2020). Bronfenbrenner’s theory, also named the ecological system, helps one to understand the construction of a person’s well-being in terms of various external factors and their influence (Thelamour & Chu, 2020). Therefore, while identifying and researching the paper’s subject, this system will play a role as a framework for social context.
Analyzed Social Subject
Taking into account the specification of the presented system, the social subject to be studied is the relationships between students and teachers. To research this subject profoundly and through different perspectives, the film Whiplash was chosen as the method. First, describe the context and the plot of the film briefly.
The story revolves around a boy who wants to be the greatest drummer (Chazelle, 2014). He decided to visit a course and take part in the orchestra. The touchstone occurs when the orchestra’s leader appears with his extremely severe methods of organizing the work of musicians. Consequently, the talent and potential of the story’s protagonist are doubted significantly. During the entire film, he tries to convince the world and, especially, the orchestra’s leader in the reality of his talent.
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory
To understand the peculiarities of Bronfenbrenner’s theory better, it will be essential to consider the book The Bronfenbrenner Primer. In it, the author, Shelton (2018), states the close connection between the world and a person’s development. For example, according to Shelton (2018), “in his view, we are always interacting with our environment, and these interactions are reciprocal: the world interacts with us” (p. 16). The author stresses that the person’s growth occurs through close engagement and involvement in the processes that happen in the world (Thelamour & Chu, 2020).
In addition, in a broader sense, one’s development is caused by one’s ability to understand all the past experiences of humanity. In other words, to realize facts and obtain new skills and knowledge, it is necessary to study the people’s past and those achievements that were created (Thelamour & Chu, 2020). Notably, both individuals and the external environment can share their experiences while creating mutual benefits. This factor contributes to the practicality of Bronfenbrenner’s theory and highlights that the external environment in the Microsystem has an extreme influence on the individual’s entire life and development.
Applying the Theory to Study the Subject
The subject of the relationships between the teacher and the student is a vital discussion in terms of social sciences and ecological theory. This fact is due to the extreme influence of the teacher’s attitude on the person’s beliefs, skills, and future prosperity. Such an external environment as school, which is a part of Bronfenbrenner’s theory, creates a unique atmosphere where the student can be changed entirely due to the teacher’s impact (Chazelle, 2014).
The film’s plot also shows how important it is to find the right approach to the student and understand their needs (Chazelle, 2014). The Whiplash’s orchestra leader found the most helpful attitude for the protagonist to develop his skills as a drummer. While going through various doubts, the boy did not give up and was improving his skills intensively (Chazelle, 2014). The film’s story is an excellent example of how the external environment on the level of the Microsystem, following Bronfenbrenner’s theory, can influence a person’s development and well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social sciences have various theories that strive to explore particular aspects. The essay showed that such a system as Bronfenbrenner’s theory can play a vital role in understanding social relationships among people. The paper’s focus on the relationships between teachers and students is illustrated through the film Whiplash. The movie’s scenes underline not only the direct influence of the external environment on the person but also state the necessity of finding the right teacher’s approach. Understandably, future prosperity and well-being are highly impacted by many external factors, such as schools and teachers. Therefore, social sciences should be supported by specific theories with their practical implications to construct a more qualitative society.
References
Chazelle, D. (2014). Whiplash. [Film]. Sony Pictures Classics.
Shelton, L. (2018). The Bronfenbrenner primer: A guide to develecology. Taylor & Francis.
Thelamour, B., & Chu, H. (2020). Conceptual and methodological approaches to navigating immigrant ecologies. Springer International Publishing.