PYC4804 Assignment 6 (Questions and Answers A+ graded 100% verified)

PYC4804 Assignment 6 (Questions and Answers A+ graded 100% verified) Question 1 Draw an ecomap of this family in context. In your ecomap include a 3-generational genogram, and remember to include the relationship lines and the key/legend. Question 2 Describe the developmental frameworks relevant to the family in the case study. Refer to the family life cycle, stages of marriage and developmental theories discussed in your prescribed textbook. Remember to include only the stages that the family should be in currently, according to the developmental frameworks. This family is now in Stage 5 of the Family Life Cycle. The family consist of an adult male and a female, with a child age 9 in Primary School. Children should be allowed at this point to establish relationships outside of the family. (Becvar & Becvar, 2014, p. 69) At this stage the family would want to expand social interactions by organizing outings or play dates with friends as well as encourage their child’s educational progress, by helping with homework. This is also a stage where more time is invested in the child who starts to take part in more outdoor activities, which means that parents will have more responsibilities in making sure their child gets to practices on time and will have to invest in sport clothing etc. This family is in Stage 3 of Marriage according to Becvar & Becvar’s (2014, p. 120) which is the middle marriage period of the family life-cycle model. Because Paul and Mary has been married for ten years, they are entering a stage where they have to adjust to midlife changes, reevaluating and renegotiating aspects of their relationship and renewing their commitment in their marriage. At the moment their is strain upon their relationship as Paul has been spending much more time outside of the home, per-suing other activities and leaving his family to deal with issues of anxiety. The anxiety experienced by Mary and the strain upon their relationship has started to affect Simon, which at times struggle with anxiety and he has become more clingy, most probably because of the fact that his parents considered separating. He does not feel comfortable going on school outings or sleeping over at family or friends. According to the developmental theory of Erik Erikson, (Becvar & Becvar, 2014, p. 117). Simon who is 9 years old, is in developmental Stage 4. In this stage the child will face industry vs inferiority. This is a stage where children will start to compare themselves with their friends or other children of their age. They will either feel accomplished in what they can do or in who they are or experience a sense of inadequacy where they feel that they don’t measure up. Paul and Mary who are both in their thirties are in the young adulthood stage, which is stage 6 of the developmental model of Erik Erikson. This is the stage where young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships with other people and where their success leads to strong relationships, but their failure can results in loneliness and isolation. (Malone JC, Liu SR, Vaillant GE, Rentz DM, Waldinger RJ., 2016). It is vital to form close, committed relationships with other people at this stage. It seems that Mary has been in a state of isolation due to the fact that Paul do not spend much time at home, per-suing his own activities. Question 3 Provide a first order cybernetic description of this family. In your answer, include a description of what the role of a FOC therapist would be. Include in your discussion at least 5 FOC concepts/principles in your description. (remember to first define the concept/principle and the apply them to the case) According to a First Order approach to therapy the emphasis will be on the the degree of openness or closedness in relations to boundaries. This means to what degree information is able to permeate in and out of a system. (Baron, 2007) Reality is seen as restricted and the therapist is on the outside, a unbiased observer discovering the reality of the family. In this case Mary would be identified as the patient due to the fact that she has experienced depression, however Baron, 2007 notes, that her symptoms are an “expression of the family dysfunction”. According to the FOC system the system is dysfunctional. The boundaries seems to be rigid and new information are not easily introduced. Based on the principles of recursion and reciprocal causality it is understood that each member impacts on and has an influence on the other members of the system. The family system seems to be characterized by negative feedback in that the system is maintaining homeostasis and no change has occurred. The role of a First Order Cybernetic Therapist is to be an observer of what is going on on the inside of a system, but doing it from standing on the outside and observing the situation in an objective manner. The interactions between the members are observed and the individuals are analyzed in the context of the system in which they live in order to develop an intervention strategy. The therapist perceives themselves as an expert and will try to adjust the family in accordance with the normative expectations set by society. According to the FOC approach, Therapy is a corrective and normative method of solving the system 's problems. The therapist views the systems as objective, thus impose change upon the system and is viewed as the expert. In the FOC approach the therapist assesses the system, gives a diagnosis and then intervenes to restore “health”. The therapist does not perceive the individual as the target of intervention but focuses on the system. FOC Principles: Definition: Example with reference to case study: 1. Openness and Closedness According to Bevcar, 2014, this principle of openness and closedness can be defined as the extent to which a specific system, as in the above case study, grants and allows the input of new information. The family is in a state of closedness due to the fact that their is not much flow of information, and thoughts, interests and dreams are not shared. 2. Entropy and Negentropy Entropy can be defined as either too much or too little whereas negentropy can be defined as a more acceptable state (Becvar, 2014). When we apply this to the case study above, it should be clear that the family is in a state of entropy due to their closedness. Because of their own issues they have struggled with, which almost led to separation, they lost sight of their parenting role or the effects this might have had on their child. This entire circular motion results in a complete state of instability and entropy 3. Morphostasis and morphogenesis Morphostasis is the tendency of a system towards stability and morphogenesis is how a system enhances behaviour which allows for growth and change. According to Bevcar, 2014, it is important to have both change and stability for a system to function normally. It is clear within the case study that their is both a lack in stability and change. The situation between Paul and Mary shows a dire need for change. And as they work towards that their will be more stability within their family system which would mean that Simon’s anxieties would cease. 4. Rules and boundaries A system rule is what discriminates it from other systems. Rules constitute values and accepted behaviours in line with norms set out by the specific system. According to Bevcar, 2014, rules vary from system to system and the therapist will have to identify the rules and boundaries through observation It seems as if all the rules are set by Paul, however he himself, follows a different set of rules and boundaries. 5. Feedback Feedback is the process in which information about past behavior is fed back in to the system in a circular manner. Positive feedback can be defined as feedback that accepts that change has occurred within a system and has been accepted by the system. Negative feedback is when no change has occurred and that the system maintains in a state of homeostasis (Becvar, 2014). Question 4 How would an SOC therapist approach the case? Apply your understanding of SOC and how reality, health and pathology are understood from an SOC perspective. In your answer, include the role a therapist would play. When looking at this case from a second order cybernetic perspective the therapist would not just be observing the family from without, but would work in a much closer way with each family member. Second order systems are autonomous which means that they interact with all the elements within the system and this is where change takes place. During the therapeutic session, no reference is made to an external environment. From a SOC perspective a stories reality is assumed. Persons live in a multiverse of many equally valid observer-dependent realities. (Bevcar & Bevcar, 2006). The observer is part of the observed and reality is self-referential. The observations by the therapist influence what she sees and it is acknowledged that their are many alternative, yet equally valid perceptions. Reality is thus co-created. According to this perspective the believe is that their is no single correct or valid way to live one’s live, thus reality is not a given. Health is interpreted in the way people define their realities and relationships. Labeling is a concept that is inconsistent with SOC. The behaviour within a system is seen to be logical. The therapist will be more interested in learning how people perceive and the interpretations they make regarding pathology and well being. All systems do what they do and, unless we call it that, it should not be considered as pathological, the diagnosis then only exist in the eyes of the observer. The therapist’s role will be that of co-creator. The focus would be on how the family thinks or speaks about their problems. The diagnosis would then exist only in the eyes of the beholder. The therapist may perturb the system, however the system will adopt changes only if the structure allows for it - structural determination. The therapist will not label the individual members. Question 5 Second order cybernetics can be viewed as a meta-perspective. In line with this premise, and the questions below: 5.1 According to Bevcar and Bevcar (2014), systemic thinking is not an either/or approach. Discuss this statement and justify how FOC and SOC can be integrated in a complimentary manner. We work from a dualistic viewpoint, if we follow an either / or view, and adhere to a good / bad way of thought. Both first and second order reasoning complement each other in meaningful ways if we follow a both / and view. First-order thought offers a rational way to deal with the challenges of people in life. Second-order thought allows us to understand our position in what we think and do with others as an observer / participant. The reflection of self in relation to others helps us to behave ethically, as both who we are in our relationship with others and the effects of our acts are constantly monitored. The second order method tends to serve as a moderator of the role of the first order. It challenges the "truth" the therapist feels are true and leaves him / her in a world of values and beliefs. Unfortunately, we can adjust positions to fit various situations, or fortunately, the trick here is to be conscious of alternatives. These approaches gives meaning one to another, and neither is wrong or right. In the device definition and analysis, each has a contribution. They help provide a wider, more informative overview. Cybernetics of the first order feature at the level of doing and motion. Cybernetics of the second order functions at the level of thought. Cybernetics of the first order means that the professional is in a privileged place of expertise. Cybernetics of the second order presume an inclusive viewpoint in which both the therapist and the client are involved and equal partners in the creation of fact.