PYC2614 EXAM PACK
2023
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
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2 PYC 2614
May/June 2018
Question 1
The aim of the module "Community Psychology Building Foundations" (PYC 2614) is to
(1) tram students as fully fledged professionals that can perform and implement community
interventions
( 2) build the foundations of communities
(3) solve community problems in the areas of mental illness and crime, once and for all
I ( 4) provide ways and means of understanding current contextual issues in our communities "
(5) None of the above are correct pgV : The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the historiesthat shaped the emergenceof community psychology
globally andin South Africa. You will be introducedto thedifferent principles and intervention modelsapplied in community
psychology , andhow these are informed by various theoriesand schools of community psychology. Themodule adopts a
relational, observationaland narrative approach through which you willhave an understandingof current contextual issuesin
Question 2 your community and how thesecan beattended to through community psychology interventions .
This epistemology emanates from the Western way of viewing reality and assumes
tha t psychology is an objective anduniversal science . In other words , it is seen as th e
Mainstream modern psychology is NOT based on the belief that pg3
only scientifc and fa ct-based way of understanding an indi vidu al. It does not consider
contextual particula rities such as sex, race , culture , and the values and meanings of
.
oth ers in u ndersta ndin gan individual (Mkhize , 2013) Western culture also believes tha t
" ^ * Knowledge is gained through participation and connecting , knowledgeshould be produced through methodsof science , in that objective tru th
not so muchthrough separationandabstraction . .
can be discovered if methods of research are refned Western scientifc methods claim
that objective knowledge can be created withoutconsidering the role of theobserver
or researcherin theprocess of research . Due to this approach , mainstreampsychology
-
claims to fun ction as a value free sciencewithout any po litical undertones . These values
(1) knowledge should be produced through methods of science
gave rise to the idea that the psychologist is the expert. Moreover , the expertcan claim
to be an ind ividual of a high order due to th e knowledge tha t has been gained through
. to .
scientifc re search This claim is used empower individuals (Prilleltensky & Fox , 1997 ) In a
objective truth can be discovered if methods of research are refined
particula rsitu ation, the so- called ‘expert" can claim to pose more knowledge regarding a
( 2)
group of indivi duals in a community . This power dynamic canhaveimmenseconsequences
whenthe expertapproaches the community in need, as the y would govern or havean
influ ence on how the community lives.
( 3) objective knowledge can be created without considering the role of the observer or
researcher in the process of research
I ( 41 people are the (best) experts on their own lives and on their local communities
( 5) assumes that psychology is an objective and universal science
Question 3
pg4: Knowledge is gained through participation and connecting,
The traditional African psychological worldview does NOT not so much through separation and abstraction .
(1) have a holistic view of life as a cosmic unity
(2) view parental responsibilities as also residing with the extended family and community
( 3) make no or little distinction between nature and culture
1 41
( gain knowledge primarily through separation and abstraction!
l
(5) view causality to be linked to the interaction of life forces
Question 4
The critical African perspective on psychology
(1) isbased on the Western and individualistic approach to psychology
(2) assumes a value-free orientation to knowledge that is located in the middle to uppersocio -
economic classes
( 3) includes the lived experiences and reflections of marginalised people
-pi] caters only tor tne values of middle and uppei classes
(5) sees psychological illness as having an underlying biological cause
pg 5: its focus is on the “lived experiences ” of people . This
includes the lived experiences and reflections of marginalised people. Its focus drives
it to addressing problems such as illiteracy, disintegration of extended family systems,
poverty, alienation and other social issues.
[TURN OVER]
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3 PYC 2614
pg 6: In his chapter , Yen (2013) discusses the history of community psychology in South Africa .
He also covers some of the complexities associated with the concept of "community ”. May/June 2018
Implicit in Yen’s discussion is that the concept “community " may change over time and
that it is multifaceted
Question 5
Yen’s (2013) discussion of the history of community psychology in South Africa points to the
position of liberatory community psychology wherein
(1) psychological services and psychotherapy are only meant for the elite and middle class who
can afford it
(2) "community ” refers only to poor, disadvantaged, black townships or rural areas
(3) community psychology is only for the disadvantaged who cannot afford or access individual
therapy
(4) psychological health , illness and disorder are predominantly located within
individuals and not linked to societal , political , historic , and environmental influences
(5) None of the above are correct
pg7 Nelson and Prillelteneky ( 2010 ) refer to community psychology as the study of people in
context . While this is a useful description to some extent , it is possible that while one may
Question 6 study people in context , this can also be done uncritically. Thus , we fnd it necessary to
include the term “critical” to Nelson and Prillelteneky’s description . “Critical ” in this case is
understood as a continuous process that includes self -reflection .
The definition of community psychology does NOT include the following
(1) There is no single definition of community psychology , and it is a heterogeneous concept
( 2) Nelson and Prilleltensky (2010) refer to community psychology as the critical study of people
in context
( 3) Community psychology is a neutral knowledge domain that is a sub-discipline of
Psychology
( 4) Community psychology places an emphasis on the importance of the local rather than the
universal
( 5) Community psychology is directed towards the common aim of improving community
conditions and promoting psychological wellbeing
Question 7
The recent calls for a decolomsed education by the ‘' fallist " movements such as “# RhodesmustfaiI”
and “#Feesmustfall” in South Africa can NOT be linked to
(1) A critical process of self-reflection within student collectives and academia
| (2) A politics of knowledge production that show that science and knowledge is non-political
(3) A process ot critically thinking and theorising about the situatedness of knowledge systems
and entry into dialogues with different approaches or theories from elsewhere
( 4) A re-ignition of importance of an education that is relevant to the many and varied local
contexts in Southern Africa
( 5) The problematic of importing conceptual categories and theories from the West
Question 8
Stevens (2013) speaks of “community psychologies ” (heterogeneous) as opposed to a singular
“community psychology " This points to
(1) the relevant social contexts under which community psychologies operate
(2) the intrapsychic and individualistic bio-medical model in psychology
(3) modern Western values , ideals , principles and practices ,
|(4) the liberal and humanitarian scientific ideologies and approaches to mental illness
(5) the lived experiences of the people in the West
pg 11: Stevens (2013) speaks of “community psychologies” (heterogeneous ) as opposed to
a singular “community psychology” that is capable of accounting and theorising for [TURN OVER]
all contexts and experiences . Therefore , it is more appropriate to think of community
psychology as having multiple histories.
From the above discussions, it is evident that in various contexts , community psychology
as a sub- discipline emanated as a response to practices that were inadequate, irrelevant not taking into account the
various contexts in which communities lived. The subdiscipline also developed as a response to policies , which had negative impacts to the living
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Distribution of this document is illegal
2023
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
For assistance contact
Email:
, Stuvia.com - The study-notes marketplace
2 PYC 2614
May/June 2018
Question 1
The aim of the module "Community Psychology Building Foundations" (PYC 2614) is to
(1) tram students as fully fledged professionals that can perform and implement community
interventions
( 2) build the foundations of communities
(3) solve community problems in the areas of mental illness and crime, once and for all
I ( 4) provide ways and means of understanding current contextual issues in our communities "
(5) None of the above are correct pgV : The purpose of this module is to introduce you to the historiesthat shaped the emergenceof community psychology
globally andin South Africa. You will be introducedto thedifferent principles and intervention modelsapplied in community
psychology , andhow these are informed by various theoriesand schools of community psychology. Themodule adopts a
relational, observationaland narrative approach through which you willhave an understandingof current contextual issuesin
Question 2 your community and how thesecan beattended to through community psychology interventions .
This epistemology emanates from the Western way of viewing reality and assumes
tha t psychology is an objective anduniversal science . In other words , it is seen as th e
Mainstream modern psychology is NOT based on the belief that pg3
only scientifc and fa ct-based way of understanding an indi vidu al. It does not consider
contextual particula rities such as sex, race , culture , and the values and meanings of
.
oth ers in u ndersta ndin gan individual (Mkhize , 2013) Western culture also believes tha t
" ^ * Knowledge is gained through participation and connecting , knowledgeshould be produced through methodsof science , in that objective tru th
not so muchthrough separationandabstraction . .
can be discovered if methods of research are refned Western scientifc methods claim
that objective knowledge can be created withoutconsidering the role of theobserver
or researcherin theprocess of research . Due to this approach , mainstreampsychology
-
claims to fun ction as a value free sciencewithout any po litical undertones . These values
(1) knowledge should be produced through methods of science
gave rise to the idea that the psychologist is the expert. Moreover , the expertcan claim
to be an ind ividual of a high order due to th e knowledge tha t has been gained through
. to .
scientifc re search This claim is used empower individuals (Prilleltensky & Fox , 1997 ) In a
objective truth can be discovered if methods of research are refined
particula rsitu ation, the so- called ‘expert" can claim to pose more knowledge regarding a
( 2)
group of indivi duals in a community . This power dynamic canhaveimmenseconsequences
whenthe expertapproaches the community in need, as the y would govern or havean
influ ence on how the community lives.
( 3) objective knowledge can be created without considering the role of the observer or
researcher in the process of research
I ( 41 people are the (best) experts on their own lives and on their local communities
( 5) assumes that psychology is an objective and universal science
Question 3
pg4: Knowledge is gained through participation and connecting,
The traditional African psychological worldview does NOT not so much through separation and abstraction .
(1) have a holistic view of life as a cosmic unity
(2) view parental responsibilities as also residing with the extended family and community
( 3) make no or little distinction between nature and culture
1 41
( gain knowledge primarily through separation and abstraction!
l
(5) view causality to be linked to the interaction of life forces
Question 4
The critical African perspective on psychology
(1) isbased on the Western and individualistic approach to psychology
(2) assumes a value-free orientation to knowledge that is located in the middle to uppersocio -
economic classes
( 3) includes the lived experiences and reflections of marginalised people
-pi] caters only tor tne values of middle and uppei classes
(5) sees psychological illness as having an underlying biological cause
pg 5: its focus is on the “lived experiences ” of people . This
includes the lived experiences and reflections of marginalised people. Its focus drives
it to addressing problems such as illiteracy, disintegration of extended family systems,
poverty, alienation and other social issues.
[TURN OVER]
Downloaded by: mukhunama83 |
Distribution of this document is illegal
, Stuvia.com - The study-notes marketplace
3 PYC 2614
pg 6: In his chapter , Yen (2013) discusses the history of community psychology in South Africa .
He also covers some of the complexities associated with the concept of "community ”. May/June 2018
Implicit in Yen’s discussion is that the concept “community " may change over time and
that it is multifaceted
Question 5
Yen’s (2013) discussion of the history of community psychology in South Africa points to the
position of liberatory community psychology wherein
(1) psychological services and psychotherapy are only meant for the elite and middle class who
can afford it
(2) "community ” refers only to poor, disadvantaged, black townships or rural areas
(3) community psychology is only for the disadvantaged who cannot afford or access individual
therapy
(4) psychological health , illness and disorder are predominantly located within
individuals and not linked to societal , political , historic , and environmental influences
(5) None of the above are correct
pg7 Nelson and Prillelteneky ( 2010 ) refer to community psychology as the study of people in
context . While this is a useful description to some extent , it is possible that while one may
Question 6 study people in context , this can also be done uncritically. Thus , we fnd it necessary to
include the term “critical” to Nelson and Prillelteneky’s description . “Critical ” in this case is
understood as a continuous process that includes self -reflection .
The definition of community psychology does NOT include the following
(1) There is no single definition of community psychology , and it is a heterogeneous concept
( 2) Nelson and Prilleltensky (2010) refer to community psychology as the critical study of people
in context
( 3) Community psychology is a neutral knowledge domain that is a sub-discipline of
Psychology
( 4) Community psychology places an emphasis on the importance of the local rather than the
universal
( 5) Community psychology is directed towards the common aim of improving community
conditions and promoting psychological wellbeing
Question 7
The recent calls for a decolomsed education by the ‘' fallist " movements such as “# RhodesmustfaiI”
and “#Feesmustfall” in South Africa can NOT be linked to
(1) A critical process of self-reflection within student collectives and academia
| (2) A politics of knowledge production that show that science and knowledge is non-political
(3) A process ot critically thinking and theorising about the situatedness of knowledge systems
and entry into dialogues with different approaches or theories from elsewhere
( 4) A re-ignition of importance of an education that is relevant to the many and varied local
contexts in Southern Africa
( 5) The problematic of importing conceptual categories and theories from the West
Question 8
Stevens (2013) speaks of “community psychologies ” (heterogeneous) as opposed to a singular
“community psychology " This points to
(1) the relevant social contexts under which community psychologies operate
(2) the intrapsychic and individualistic bio-medical model in psychology
(3) modern Western values , ideals , principles and practices ,
|(4) the liberal and humanitarian scientific ideologies and approaches to mental illness
(5) the lived experiences of the people in the West
pg 11: Stevens (2013) speaks of “community psychologies” (heterogeneous ) as opposed to
a singular “community psychology” that is capable of accounting and theorising for [TURN OVER]
all contexts and experiences . Therefore , it is more appropriate to think of community
psychology as having multiple histories.
From the above discussions, it is evident that in various contexts , community psychology
as a sub- discipline emanated as a response to practices that were inadequate, irrelevant not taking into account the
various contexts in which communities lived. The subdiscipline also developed as a response to policies , which had negative impacts to the living
Downloaded by: mukhunama83 |
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