The Ecological Systems Theory (EST) establishes that "Humans" are molded by their surroundings. The ecological system has multiple layers: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macrosystem, and the chronosystem. Bronfenbrenner's nested and Neal & Neal’s network EST show that these systems integrate to form an individual’s framework—the human they become (their beliefs, their values, etc).

Geert Hofstede defines six cultural dimensions which are used to measure differences between nations:

• power distance

• uncertainty avoidance

• individualism/collectivism

• masculinity/femininity

• long-term orientation

Click here for further details on each dimension.