Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory emphasizes the influence of bidirectional interactions between the person, their context, and time, as well as the proximal processes of interaction between these different variables and the developing individual. Proximal processes are seen as the “engines of development,” the most important component in the model (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006). Characteristics of the person are seen to influence development through their effect on proximal processes. These personal characteristics are classified as demand characteristics (characteristics that are apparent upon meeting an individual), resource characteristics (mental, emotional, or material resources that the individual possesses), or force characteristics (an individual’s motivational characteristics).

Importantly, context in this model is seen to be made up of microsystems (smaller systems that the person is a part of), mesosystems (interactions between microsystems), exosystems (systems that have an indirect influence on development), macrosystems (the larger social system that the person is a part of), and chronosystems (historical time systems). Time includes microtime (the present moment), mesotime (the frequency of certain proximal processes), and macrotime (synonymous with the chronosystem).

Consistent with a bioecological perspective, the individuals in emotionally focused couples therapy are thought to interact in a bidirectional manner, a proximal process. These proximal processes are at the core of the therapeutic intervention, as restructuring the interactions between partners is a key component of the emotionally focused method. This is reflected in the fact that emotionally focused........

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