In this article we attempt an histoical overview of the relevant developments and streams of tlrcught in ecologt and lwman ecologt in order to establish a framework for tlrc study of family life from an ecological perspective. In part two of tltis paper (to be publislted in the next issue o/ Family Science Review), we will identify and discuss in more detail the important cortsiderations and constntcts of ecologt we believe are applicable to the study of family ltft.With the growing interest in using an ecological perspective in home economics, family studies, family therapy, and human development, we believe it is both a timely and necessary endeavor to carefully explore the potential for connecting the principles of ecology to the study of family life. It is our intent to demonstrate that ecology is-not simply a tempting Tnitgeist, but is a conceptual force to be carefully and fruitfully utilized for decades to come in the study of family life. We begin with a brief history oi ecology in the biological sciences and the emergence of human ecology in sociology. THE BACKGROUND OF ECOLOGY IN BIOLOGY AND THE EMERGENCE OF HUMAN ECOLOGYThe word "ecology" communicates many things to people. There is agreement that the denotation of ecology comes from the Greek word "oikos," meaning house (which has come to mean an organism's most immediate or natural environment, inciuding b-Lotr-.1".d. abiotic components), combined with "logos," 6sanilg knowledge. virtually all definitions of ecology include a focus on organisms, their environment, and the interrelation.ships between them. Pinning dov*n the connotation of ecology, however, is not at all clear or unified. Much of this difficulty can be attributed to ecology's polymorphic nature and the diversity of its origins and applications. Mclntosh (1985) cautions against trying to identify direct historical connections in ecology because ecology "is more a bush with multiple stems and a diffuse rootstock than a.tree with a single,well-defined trunk and roots" (p.7). Given the general consensus about what ecology basically denotes, this metaphor can help us understand why there i Donald A. Herrin is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, tIT 8410. Scott D. Wright is in assistant professor in the same department.

In this article we continue our discussion of the precurson to a Family Ecologt by articulating the conceptual commonalities and differences that are found in-the utilization of an ecological framework within the social and -beluvioral sciences. We then examine the implications of human ecologt for an ecological study of the family. Finally, we identify and discuss four citical tenets for a Famity Eco[ogt which is offered as an altemative interdisciplinary approach to the complex srudy of family phenomena.After reviewing a substantial amount of literature from a variety of disciplines (Herrin & Wright, USSI, we have found that there probably is only one commonly iecognized and iccepted element of ecological thought. Virtually everyone agrees,at the most-fundamental level, that the science of ecology is concerned (at the very least) with the study of the interrelationships among organisms and their environments. Yet, it is quite dijconcerting to think that this may be the only element.about which a consensus exists. There is a iertain amount of frustration involved in limiting the scope of ecology to a narrow set of widel] recognizsd boundaries and precepts when "ecology" also represents so many things to so many people.Seeking insight and guidance from documented historical references is of some help, but the exact origins and meanings of ecology remain as diverse and vague now as they cver were. We say this tealizitrg others maintain that much progress has been

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract