PYC4808 Assignment 5 (COMPLETE ANSWERS) 2024 - DUE September 2024

Please ensure that you are familiar with Unisa’s policies on plagiarism and cheating. Your assignment should have a Turnitin index of no more than 10%. Include a plagiarism declaration in your assignment. Remember to reference in-text and include a reference list. Refer to APA 7th edition guidelines for the correct formatting and referencing of your assignment. Read the case study carefully, and answer the questions that follow. Total marks for the assignment is 100. Case Study Alisha (14 years old) was referred to a psychologist, for psychotherapeutic intervention, because of concerning eating behaviour. Her mom, Tisha (45 years old) reported that she has found chocolate bar wrappings hidden in Alisha’s room, and has also noticed the remnants of vomit in the toilet bowls. In the parent intake interview, Alisha’s parents, Tisha and Clinton (53 years old) indicated that Alisha was sexually abused by an unknown offender at the age of three. This was reported to the SAPS, and an investigation ensued, however, the perpetrator was never identified. At the time, Alisha refused to go to school, threw violent temper tantrums and had nightmares at night. Her parents took her for play therapy with a counsellor, and the behavioural difficulties subsided. Alisha was never informed about the abuse, and the parents decided not to tell anyone in the family. At age 13 years old, Alisha developed social and performance anxiety, had very few friends and felt awkward around others. She performed well academically, and was a competitive athlete and dancer. However, since beginning Grade 8 this year, Alisha has become more lethargic, and doesn’t have sufficient energy to compete competitively. Her academic marks have remained stable; however, she no longer enjoys school. In her first few sessions with the psychologist, Alisha disclosed that she struggles with her anxiety and is feeling down, and has begun binging on certain foods, and then purging when she feels “stuffed”. She is concerned about these behaviours, and said “I just want to feel normal again, what is wrong with me”. She also reported that she feels her parents favour her younger brother, Dante (11 years old), and that he gets all the attention. During the therapy sessions, it became clear that there appears to be some discord in the marital relationship. Tisha is a hairdresser, and appears to be supportive of her daughter, however, Alisha reports that her mother often criticises her, and has emotional outbursts when she feels stressed. But that her mother supports her, and she struggles to make decisions without her mother’s input. Clinton, on the other hand, spends a great deal of time playing golf and drinking with friends, and spends very little time with the family. In public, the parents present as cohesive and loving, however, Alisha reports that her parents often argue, especially if Tisha is stressed, or when Clinton is drunk. 1 Question 1: lOMoARcPSD| PYC4808/2025/assignment 5 Based on the case study above, draw a comprehensive ecomap of the family. Use the following symbols in your ecomap. [25] X X 1. Males indicated by a 2. Female indicated by a 3. Deceased indicated as 4. Ambivalence 5. Distant relationship - - - - - - - - - 6. Close relationship 7. Conflictual relationship X X Question 2: Based on the case study above, provide a comprehensive first order cybernetic analysis of the family. In your answer, also include the following: a) How is pathology conceptualised from a FOC perspective b) What is the role of the psychologists? c) Provide a comprehensive discussion around the rules and boundaries, relationship styles and communication in the family system. Question 3: [20] Provide a brief description of the main concepts of Murray Bowen’s Theory, how health and/or pathology is conceptualised according to this theory, and use the case study above to provide examples. [10] Question 4: Provide a brief description of the main concepts of Salvador Minuchin’s Structural Family Theory, how health and/or pathology is conceptualised according to this theory, and use the case study above to provide examples. [10] Question 5: Provide a brief critique of systems theory in sexual abuse matters. Question 6: [5] Based on the case study above, discuss the importance of including both first order and second order ethics in the approach to the case. [10] Question 7: Provide an integrative commentary regarding how FOC and SOC perspectives can be used in a complementary way. In your answer, also indicate how systems thinking and African Epistemologies can be integrated. [10] Marks for referencing [10]