The concept you're referring to is often associated with ecological systems theory, particularly as developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. According to this theory, child development is influenced by a variety of factors at different levels, including:
- Microsystem: The immediate environment in which a child lives, including family, school, and peers.
- Mesosystem: The interconnected relationships between the different microsystems (e.g., how family interactions affect school performance).
- Exosystem: External environmental settings that indirectly affect the child (e.g., a parent's workplace).
- Macrosystem: The broader cultural and societal context, including values, customs, laws, and resources that influence development.
- Chronosystem: The dimension of time, which considers the impact of life transitions and historical events on development.
This framework emphasizes how various systems interplay to shape a child's growth, learning, and behavior, highlighting the importance of considering multiple environmental factors when examining child development.