The ecological model does not yet offer a coherent framework for understanding emotional problems in children. The purpose of this paper is to present one systematic approach which would begin to integrate ecological research relevant to understanding the development of disturbing interactions between children and their environments. The environment or ecological network is defined as consisting of three nested systems or levels: the behavior setting, patterns of behavior across settings, and community/culture. Illustrative research is presented for each level together with a discussion of some unresolved methodological issues. Based on this analysis, some concerns and future directions are suggested.
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