Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory (1977, 1979, 1989, 1993, 1994) suggests that child (human) development occurs in the context of various environments. These environments, or systems, are influenced from within and between other environments. Individuals within each system influence each other through various transactions that occur between them. In ecological theory, these systems are interwoven with the child at the center, anchored in his or her immediate family environment. The system closest to the child is the microsystem; this includes the child and family, peers, neighborhood and school. Critical impact on development occurs in the child's immediate environment due to the proximal processes, transactions, and interactions that function to produce and support development. This is particularly relevant when considering maladaptive development and disorders occurring in children. Based on this theory, it can be assumed that dysfunction in children is a byproduct of the microsystem. The mesosystem surrounding the microsystem is representative of the relationships that occur between two or more environments containing the developing child. An example is that of relational interactions between caregivers and the school, or between the school and daycare. The mesosystem is an environment, or system, of microsystems (1994). The exosystem primarily represents the indirect, but sometimes direct, influences of the broader community on the child. These include law enforcement, social services, religious communities and the workplace of caregivers. These are processes occurring between two or more contexts, at least one of which does not include the child, thus indirectly influencing the child by affecting...... middle of paper ...... l occurrence of child abuse. These are explained as potentiating factors, which increase the risk of probability of mistreatment; and compensatory factors, which reduce the risk of mistreatment. These factors may be long-lasting, relatively permanent or transient, of shorter duration or intermittent. These may involve characteristics of the child, parents or environment and may be biological, historical, psychological or sociological in nature (1998). Lynch and Cicchetti proposed that maladaptation was more likely to occur when vulnerability and potentiating risk factors outweighed protective and buffering compensatory influences. However, they determined that it was not the absence or presence of compensatory potentiating, risk, or protective factors that produced a specific outcome, but rather their dynamic interaction that was significant.. (1998).