1
PYC4808
ASSIGNMENT 5
2023
ECOSYSTEMIC
PSYCHOLOGY
, 2
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
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
The correct answer is alternative 1.
PYC4808
ASSIGNMENT 5
2023
ECOSYSTEMIC
PSYCHOLOGY
, 2
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
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
The correct answer is alternative 1.
