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PYC 4808
Ecosystemic Psychology

Assignment 2
2017

Marlize Pretorius
Student no: 56275714

56275714- PYC 4808 ASSIGNMENT 2

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Table of content

1
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p
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Question 2
How health and pathology are addressed by FOC and SOC………………
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3
3
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5
4
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p
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Question 5
Critical ethical concerns raised about FOC and SOC………………………
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7
6
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p
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References ……………………………………………………………………
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56275714- PYC 4808 ASSIGNMENT 2

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Question 1
Comparison between how reality is seen by FOC and SOC

First order cybernetics is where we place ourselves outside the system as observers
of what is going on inside the system to see the bigger picture
...
The therapists do not become part of the system,
only by observing the therapist attempts to understand the operation of the system
and the interaction in the relationship (Ballack, 2017)
...
The reality is objective, and it sees a single universal
truth that applies to everybody
...

Second order cybernetics is also known as cybernetics of cybernetics
...
The reality is also in contras as the person’s version of a situation
is not more right or wrong than the next person’s version, this is known as a multiversal
reality (PYC4808, 2017)
...

Thus first and second-order approaches are consistent with each other in the
assumption that reality is understood as perceptually constructed or created (Becvar
& Becvar, 2006)
...


Question 2
How health and pathology are addressed by FOC and SOC
According to Baron (2007), to define pathology one would need to have a reference
of normalcy
...
First order thinking has a reality which can be
described in an objective manner
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This can act as a reference to family systems
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According to Minuchin’s structural
56275714- PYC 4808 ASSIGNMENT 2

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approach, family health can be defined from a first order perspective
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They should be well defined
so as to allow subsystem members to carry out their respective functions without
unnecessary interference
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Therefor boundaries within a family is
very important to maintain a healthy relationship
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It does not emanate from
dysfunction within an individual, but within a system
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People label others when they are confused, and thus it is very
easy to fall in the trap of labelling behaviour
...

Becvar and Becvar (2006) state, it is important to reiterate that the labels “healthy” and
“dysfunctional” are attributions that are made consistent with one’s personal values
and those of the society in which one lives
...

In first order thinking the observer focusses on the assessment and diagnosis of the
pathology
...
In contrast with first order
thinking, second order thinking does not relate to labelling and it is inconsistent with
health and pathology
...
A
problem is only valid if the client him/herself sees it as such
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How the client communicates about his/her
problem is more important than the problem itself (Baron, 2007)
...
Thus in the second order
approach nothing is seen as being negative in itself; but it becomes negative when the
listener perceives it as negative (Baron, 2007)
...
They can create change within a system, thus they
assess and attempt to change behaviour relative to their background and then
diagnoses and tries to restore the health
...
In contrast to this, the second order therapist is part of that which is
to be observed and hence may only describe the combination of observing systems
(Becvar & Becvar, 2006)
...
Structural
therapy relies on action, here the therapist uses himself/herself as a tool to transform
the family system (Baron, 2007)
...
A therapist’s
behaviour becomes part of the context of the family system, thus the therapist and the
family join to form a new, therapeutic system which now sets the context for the
behaviour of its members (Minuchin, 1974)
...
The
context that is being focused on is change, rather than change on the system
...

An example of a second order approach to therapy is a therapeutic framework
...

An awareness of the influence of bodily states for conversation is important in many
second-order approaches
...

Thus in first order approaches the therapists seek to make objective observations,
assess, diagnose and then intervene
...
The second order
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approach prefers an “observing system” where the therapist creates a new context
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A collaborative rather than hierarchical structure is initiated in a non-pejorative, nonjudgemental manner (Baron, 2007)
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Question 4
Comparison between first order change and second order change
according to Strategic approaches
First and second order approaches see change as requiring a change in context
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First-order change is change that occurs within the system and is consistent
with the rules of the system is referred to as
...
A theory of change Secondorder change seems to be illogical or paradoxical when considered from its current
framework with its current rules (Becvar & Becvar, 2006)
...
New
behavioural alternatives become possible in the process (Becvar & Becvar, 2006)
...
First order change is
aimed to be consistent with the logic of the conceptual framework
...
Second
order change is the process where the therapist and client co-create a new context
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The strategic approach views people and symptoms in context
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Question 5
Critical ethical concerns raised about FOC and SOC
First order cybernetics concerning ethical practice has a list of do’s and don’ts
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Therapists are expected to live and practice by these ethical
codes and not to exceed the bounds
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It is necessary to avoid pathologising the
family by use of labels
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By labelling, one might fall into the trap to stereotype,
which is exceeding the bounds of the ethical code
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It relies heavily on language as a means of therapy
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To appreciate
and respect one another are greatly valued
...
Second order ethics values participation and the meaning
of it
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This allows us to behave ethical towards each other which can lead to
maintaining a good relationship and help us realise the consequences of our actions
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We have to strain
against labelling people in a specific manner
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It emphasises the use of ethical
language and how to use this language to create a reality
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Therapist are being questioned about the ‘facts’ that they believe to be
real and leaves him/her in a world of personal values and beliefs
...

Using the either/or approach, we are revealing ourselves to good/bad ways of thinking
...
According to Baron (2007), it is unfortunate or fortunate that we can
change roles to suit different contexts, the key here is in the awareness of alternatives
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They give meaning to one another and the one is not better
than the other
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Curiosity, openness and respect is manifested in a joint manner by
the people present but it is the responsibility of the therapist to enter the therapy room
with an emotional posture that invites these factors to evolve (Griffith & Griffith, 1992)
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References
Ballack, L
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Personal communication: Tutorial guide
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(2007)
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Johannesburg
...
S
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J
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Family therapy: A systemic integration
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Boscolo, L
...
, Hoffman, L
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Milan systemic family therapy:
Conversations in theory and practice
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L
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E & Slovik, I
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(1992)
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Dulwich Centre Newsletter, 1, 5-11
Minuchin, S
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Families and family therapies
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PYC4808
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Tutorial and study guide
...

Watzlawick, P
...
H
...
(1974)
...
New York: Norton

56275714- PYC 4808 ASSIGNMENT 2

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RESULTS
Question 1 = 10
Question 2 = 10
Question 3 = 10
Question 4 = 10
Question 5 = 10
Question 6 = 8
Question 7 = 10
-----------------------------Total = 68 / 70 (97%)

COMMENTS
1 We expected to see a comprehensive description of the ontological and epistemological principles of
both FOC and SOC with regards to how each perspective views REALITY
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This implies that
there is one reality that is true for all
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Here we appreciate
that each person has their own version of reality, and that it is not universal
...


2 As with the concept of reality, we expected you to be able to discuss how health and pathology are
seen from a FOC and a SOC
...
FOC suggests that there is a definite reality, and that to define
pathology, we need to make reference to health or normalcy
...
From a SOC perspective,
we do not make reference to pathology and labelling through diagnosis is inconsistent with this
perspective
...
Pathology is then
related to the context
...
From a FOC, the therapist would assess, diagnose and
intervene in order to make changes and correct the system
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The therapist is seen as the expert who then imparts
changes on the system
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Here the therapist aspires to create a context within which change can
occur
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4 First order change and second order change are not the same concepts as first order cybernetics and
second order cybernetics
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Ath the level
of SOC, we speak of perturbations rather than change
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First order change refers to changes made in a system that is
consistent with the rules of the system
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Second order change
occurs when the changes are made that are not consistent with the rules of the system
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We expected you to discuss both first and second order change as FOC
concepts, and differentiate between the two properly
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However, the way we view ethics is somewhat different between the
two perspectives
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Instead both are
needed
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It is
a pragmatic approach which subscribes to the idea that systems can change
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From a SOC, ethics is seen from a higher order of
thinking
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We reflect on how
we work with people and the potential impact we may have on others
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We expected you to draw on FOC and SOC understanding, and
discuss the ethical stances from both
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Systems theory suggests that we do not operate from an either/or approach, but rather both/and
depending on the context
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FOC is at the level of
doing while SOC is at the level of thinking
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One
would then decide to work from a FOC or a SOC depending on the context
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If you did not reference at all a mark of 0 was awarded, and you should have
received a warning
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Thank you
to those students who showed ethical and professional academic behaviour by referencing your work
properly
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