Educational Learning Theories: Chapter 7 Introduction

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Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917- ), a Russian American psychologist, was born on April 29, 1917 to Dr. Alexander Bronfenbrenner and Kamenetski Bronfenbrenner. At the age of 6, his family relocated to United States. For a short period of time, they settled at Letchworth village in Pittsburgh where his father worked as a research director and clinical psychologist. Bronfenbrenner attended Cornell University after his graduation from Haverstraw High School. In 1938, he completed his double major in psychology and music. After that he completed his M.A. at Harvard University. In 1942, he completed his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Shortly after that, he was hired as a psychologist in the army doing many assignments for the Office of Strategic Services and the Army Air Corps. In the administration and research, he worked as an assistant chief psychologist before he accepted the offer from the University of Michigan to work as an assistant professor in Psychology. In 1948, he accepted an offer from Cornell University as a professor in Human development, family studies and psychology. He also served as a faculty member on the Board of Trustees in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Urie is admired all over the world to develop the innate relationship between research and policy on child development. He holds the view that child development is better applicable when institutional policies motivate studies in a natural environment and theory is best suited in a practical application when it is relevant.