PYC4808 ASSIGNMENT 5 2022
QUESTION 1-20 WITH ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
ECOSYSTEMIC PSYCHOLOGY
Assignment 5 Feedback/memorandum
Read the following case study, and answer questions 1-3 below.
Case Study:
Portia is a 26-year-old medical student, who is currently completing
her internship at Baragwaneth Hospital. Since she started her long
work hours, she has developed insomnia. The lack of sleep has started
impacting on her performance at work, and her supervisor referred
her to a psychologist to assist with possible stress, and the triggers for
the insomnia.
Tobias, the psychologist, suggested that she try listening to soothing
music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1
hour before bed. After 2 weeks, Portia’s insomnia did not get any
better. Tobias then suggested that when she cannot sleep, instead of
trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house.
Question 1:
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘listen to soothing music, take
a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1 hour before
bed’ can best be described as:
1. Perturbation
2. First order change
3. Second order change
4. Maintaining the status quo
The correct answer is alternative 2, first order change.
Explanation: The psychologist’s initial intervention was based on a
logical solution to the problem which did not challenge the rules of the
system. First order change is consistent with the rules of the system,
and does not alter the underlying organisation of the system.
Therefore, the solution of listening to soothing music and taking a hot
, bath before bed, is an attempt to address Portia’s symptoms instead
of addressing the systemic organisation that gives rise to her
symptoms.
Question 2:
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘instead of trying to fall
asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house’ can best be
described as:
1. First order change
2. Second order change
3. Reductionistic
4. Modernist
The correct answer is alternative 2, Second order change.
Explanation: The psychologist’s suggestion to get up and clean the
house is counterintuitive and illogical, as it requires her to do more
work when she is unable to sleep, instead of trying to sleep. By doing
this, Portia no longer tries to fall asleep, but instead does more work,
which is presumably the real systemic problem. When this is done
knowingly, i.e. Portia intentionally tries to stay awake to do more
work, it shifts the control that the symptom has over Portia into her
own hands. The symptom is no longer something that controls Portia,
but Portia controls the symptom by purposefully trying to stay awake
through doing more work. Furthermore, this intervention will also
make the symptom become untenable in the long term, and the
system will be challenged to reorganise in the way that Portia relates
to her work schedule. This intervention is known as prescribing the
symptom.
Question 3:
The suggestions provided by Tobias, the psychologist, to ‘listen
soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen
time 1 hour before bed’ and ‘Instead of trying to sleep, Portia should
get up and clean the house’ can both be described as:
1. Both suggestions can be described as first order cybernetic concepts, as
they both refer to change
2. Both suggestions can be described as first order cybernetic concepts, as
they both refer to perturbation
3. Both suggestions can be described as second order cybernetic concepts,
as they both refer to perturbation
4. None of the above
QUESTION 1-20 WITH ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
ECOSYSTEMIC PSYCHOLOGY
Assignment 5 Feedback/memorandum
Read the following case study, and answer questions 1-3 below.
Case Study:
Portia is a 26-year-old medical student, who is currently completing
her internship at Baragwaneth Hospital. Since she started her long
work hours, she has developed insomnia. The lack of sleep has started
impacting on her performance at work, and her supervisor referred
her to a psychologist to assist with possible stress, and the triggers for
the insomnia.
Tobias, the psychologist, suggested that she try listening to soothing
music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1
hour before bed. After 2 weeks, Portia’s insomnia did not get any
better. Tobias then suggested that when she cannot sleep, instead of
trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house.
Question 1:
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘listen to soothing music, take
a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1 hour before
bed’ can best be described as:
1. Perturbation
2. First order change
3. Second order change
4. Maintaining the status quo
The correct answer is alternative 2, first order change.
Explanation: The psychologist’s initial intervention was based on a
logical solution to the problem which did not challenge the rules of the
system. First order change is consistent with the rules of the system,
and does not alter the underlying organisation of the system.
Therefore, the solution of listening to soothing music and taking a hot
, bath before bed, is an attempt to address Portia’s symptoms instead
of addressing the systemic organisation that gives rise to her
symptoms.
Question 2:
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘instead of trying to fall
asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house’ can best be
described as:
1. First order change
2. Second order change
3. Reductionistic
4. Modernist
The correct answer is alternative 2, Second order change.
Explanation: The psychologist’s suggestion to get up and clean the
house is counterintuitive and illogical, as it requires her to do more
work when she is unable to sleep, instead of trying to sleep. By doing
this, Portia no longer tries to fall asleep, but instead does more work,
which is presumably the real systemic problem. When this is done
knowingly, i.e. Portia intentionally tries to stay awake to do more
work, it shifts the control that the symptom has over Portia into her
own hands. The symptom is no longer something that controls Portia,
but Portia controls the symptom by purposefully trying to stay awake
through doing more work. Furthermore, this intervention will also
make the symptom become untenable in the long term, and the
system will be challenged to reorganise in the way that Portia relates
to her work schedule. This intervention is known as prescribing the
symptom.
Question 3:
The suggestions provided by Tobias, the psychologist, to ‘listen
soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen
time 1 hour before bed’ and ‘Instead of trying to sleep, Portia should
get up and clean the house’ can both be described as:
1. Both suggestions can be described as first order cybernetic concepts, as
they both refer to change
2. Both suggestions can be described as first order cybernetic concepts, as
they both refer to perturbation
3. Both suggestions can be described as second order cybernetic concepts,
as they both refer to perturbation
4. None of the above
