PYC4808/101/0/2014

Tutorial letter 101/0/2014

Ecosystemic Psychology

PYC4808 or PSY474V
Year module
Department of Psychology
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.

CONTENTS
Page
1

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 3

1.1

Tutorial matter ................................................................................................................................. 5

PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ............................................................... 5

2.1

Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2

Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 6

LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 7

3.1

Lecturer(s) ...................................................................................................................................... 7

3.2

Department ..................................................................................................................................... 7

3.3

University ........................................................................................................................................ 8

MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 9

4.1

Prescribed books ............................................................................................................................ 9

4.2

Recommended books ..................................................................................................................... 9

4.3

Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves) ................................................................................................ 11

4.4

Journal articles .............................................................................................................................. 11

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE .............................................................. 13

MODULE-SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN............................................................................................. 14

MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING ................................... 14

ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 14

8.1

Assessment strategy .................................................................................................................... 14

8.1.1

Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 15

8.2

General assignment numbers ....................................................................................................... 15

8.2.1

Unique assignment numbers ........................................................................................................ 15

8.2.2

Due dates for assignments ........................................................................................................... 15

8.3

Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 15

8.4

Assignments ................................................................................................................................. 16

OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS............................................................................................. 23

10

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 23

11

CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................. 23

Please note / important notes:

Formal tuition in this course will be conducted in English only. Where capability exists, and upon
request, individual consultations will be conducted in any preferred South African language.
2

PYC4808/101

INTRODUCTION

Dear Student
Welcome to our postgraduate paper in Ecosystemic Psychology. We trust that you will find the
experience rich and rewarding!
Much of what is covered in this paper may be at variance with what you have learnt to date and
may well challenge what seemed certain to you previously. It is our expectation and hope that
this paper will take you on a journey of discovery and invention and tap into new ways of
thinking.
What emerges from this module will depend on the extent to which you place yourself in the
position of a discoverer/inventor. You will be required not only to explore the concepts and ideas
described in the prescribed work, but also to discover the world and people around you and
probably the most difficult of all to explore your own thoughts and ideas about the world and
how you are part of this created reality. We understand that this module can be challenging, and
so it is important for you to read the study guide thoroughly so you can gain a good grasp of
what is expected of you throughout the year.
All study material (including this tutorial letter) can be downloaded from myUnisa, and study
related queries can be found in my Studies @ Unisa.
Tools and tips
We would like to provide you with some useful tools and tips to help you along the way.
However, it is your journey which will be the ultimate teacher of what you gain from this module.
The first tip is to acquire the prescribed book which we regard as an essential tool for this
module. If you are unable to purchase the prescribed book new, look for second hand books, or
make use of the library copies.
Remember that this module involves a process of learning which will be punctuated by points
of uncertainty and feelings of being lost. We understand that this course may be challenging,
and so we encourage you to work on the module consistently throughout the year. In our
experience, students who often wait until the end of the year struggle to grasp the theory.
Organise yourselves into groups, or communities with other students. The group (ecosystem)
which you form with other students can assist you with going through the module which may be
difficult to navigate on your own. With regard to the above, we suggest that you request a list of
postgraduate students who are doing this course from:
The Registrar
Student Administration and Registration
PO Box 392
UNISA
0003
Select people in your area, or simply choose names from the list to contact. Use letters, phones,
faxes, e-mail, coffee bars, or any other means to make contact with fellow students.
The procedure of forming groups is not compulsory but is highly recommended as an
important resource which will benefit your process of learning.
3

Check myUnisa regularly for announcements and important updates.

Unisa has implemented a new onscreen marking system since 2013. This allows students to
send and receive assignments online. So, when submitting your assignments, please send
them via myUnisa as a PDF file. If you need to attach drawings or diagrams, please scan them
in with your assignment and then send them as one file. Please do not submit the same
assignment twice.
Please ensure that you use the correct assignment codes. Incorrect codes cause significant
administrative delays.
We encourage you to become familiar with the latest American Psychological Association (APA)
referencing style. Plagiarism is a serious offence, and all work that has been sourced and cited
must be correctly referenced.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO STUDENTS WHO WERE ENROLLED FOR THE HONOURS
IN PSYCHOLOGY BEFORE 2011
1.

Students who are following the old curriculum and who have passed a paper(s) before 2011
retain credits for the paper(s) passed and must choose the outstanding paper(s) from List A
to complete their current qualification not later than 2014. Only repeaters can enrol for the
papers from List B until the end of 2014:

LIST A
PSY471S :
PSY481U :
PSY482V :
PSY473U :
PSY484X :
PSY4988 :
PSY474V :
PSY4999 :
PSY475W :
PSY461Q :
PSY4794 :

Research methodology (open-book examination)

Psychopathology
Social psychology
Personology
Developmental psychology
Psychological assessment
Ecosystemic psychology
Therapeutic psychology
The psychology of work
Community and health psychology
Sport psychology

LIST B:
PSY485Y :
PSY4885 :

Physiological psychology
Cognitive psychology

1.

Articulation with other qualifications

Students who were not able to complete the degree will be considered based on their
intended specialisation stream and be advised about articulation into the new B.A. Honours
in Psychology.

2.

Support measures
Special attention will be given to students who need to complete the degree by providing
options to re-submit assignments; providing detailed feedback on assignments; encouraging
students to maintain regular contact with their lecturers via email, myUnisa, telephone, faceto-face on specific areas of difficulties with the subject matter; providing clear directive in
tutorial letters and myUnisa.

PYC4808/101

3.

Supplementary examinations
Students who do not pass the last examination in October/November 2014 will be allowed to
supplement the examination with either a written or oral examination in order to complete
the degree.

1.1

Tutorial matter

The study material you should receive for PYC4808 and PSY474V consists of the following:

101 Tutorial Letter

Tutorial Letter PSYHONM/301/2014
Feedback Tutorial letter after all three assignments have been submitted

Some of this tutorial matter may not be available when you register. Tutorial matter that is not
available when you register will be posted to you as soon as possible, but is also available on
myUnisa.
Note: Please do not contact the Psychology Department if you have not received your study
material. E-mail despatch@unisa.ac.za or send despatch related enquiries to the following SMS
number 43579.

PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE

2.1

Purpose

ECOSYSTEMIC PSYCHOLOGY: THE PAPER

We have various aims with this paper and thus we require you to master different things at
different times and in different ways. Our first aim is for you to master certain content. This aim
is much the same as in your undergraduate work, although the workload may be higher, or you
may already know some of the content we address in this course. Some of the content,
specifically that with regard to the application of systems and ecosystemic theory to psychology,
may be new though.
Both systemic and ecosystemic theory as they relate to psychology introduce you to a way of
thinking which views people in the context of their living systems. This involves what may be
called a paradigm shift in that it differs significantly from the paradigms such as intrapsychic
psychology or behaviourism which have historically dominated the Western world and our
discipline of psychology. This subject has been referred to as ecological thinking, the systemic
paradigm or cybernetic epistemology. In essence all of these are attempts to name the
fundamental shift in our ways of observing, describing and researching when applying systems
or ecosystemic theory to psychology. Ecosystemic psychology (the name we prefer)
emphasises as central the idea that the patterns which connect, rather than a thing in itself, is
important. Applied to the domain of living systems, a focus emerges which regards the process
of living, or the relational system through which people live, as the subject matter of our
observations, descriptions and research.
Our second aim is for you to begin to see the world differently by comparing and contrasting
different epistemological approaches and focussing on how the worlds created by these
5

epistemological approaches look different or similar, depending on the approach from which you
are looking. In this module you are challenged to go beyond the ideas and assumptions which
are explicit and implicit in your current thinking about people. Ideally, upon completion of this
course, you will be able to provide a description which critically compares and contrasts the
different worlds created by each approach.
Our third aim is for you to begin to become aware of how theory is linked to the way in which
one sees the world. In other words, we would formulate a different theory when looking at the
world from an intrapsychic approach, than when looking at the world from an ecosystemic
approach. For example, intrapsychic theory may focus on the id, ego and super-ego while
ecosystemic theory may focus on interpersonal behavioural patterns.
These three goals have driven the development of the course as it currently stands and we
hope that we have been effective in facilitating their development through our current
curriculum. Remember that this journey has as its objective the discovery of a new way of
thinking. The scope of this module ranges from an in-depth understanding of ecosystemic
theory and concepts, to the application of such content to case studies. Ultimately the course
will highlight that the world we live in is a delicate, complex pattern of connections which need to
be "seen" and experienced to be "believed".
2.2

Outcomes

Outcome 1:
You need to be able to differentiate between first and second order cybernetic concepts and
apply them in various ecologies of life.
Assessment criteria:
You are competent when evidence shows that you:

Are able to define all concepts and theories appropriately

Are able to apply these concepts in different contexts, by referring to their lived
experiences and those of their communities.
Are able to engage your fellow students through myUnisa discussion forums on matters
related to the course.
Consult a wide variety of sources in order to undertake a literature review.
Are able to cite and reference sources according to the APA style of referencing.

Outcome 2:
You need to be able to articulate your understanding of the ecosystemic epistemology and
evaluate the extent to which it can be applied to research, therapy, ethics and community
situations
Assessment criteria:
You are competent when evidence shows that you are able to:

Apply the ecosystemic thinking approach to therapeutic, research, ethics and community
situations.
Describe these situations and reflect upon them in a critical and ethical manner.

PYC4808/101
Outcome 3:
You need to be able to apply your overall knowledge of the ecosystemic psychological
approaches to a given family system
Assessment criteria:
You are competent when evidence shows that you are able to:

Critique a case study by taking into consideration the analysis of the different patterns of
connections, as well as by representing these connections through drawing genograms
and ecological maps in a meaningful way.

LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1

Lecturer(s)

Your Ecosystemic Psychology team consist of the following lecturers:

Dr Andronica Gumani

(012) 429 3111

gumanma@unisa.ac.za

Mr Gcina Kheswa

(012) 429 8202

kheswge@unisa.ac.za

Mr Khonzi Mbatha

(021) 429 8299

mbathk@unisa.ac.za

Ms Nikki Themistocleous
(Module Leader)

(012) 429 8277

themin@unisa.ac.za

Dr Beate Von Krosigk

(012) 429 8224

vkrosbc@unisa.ac.za

Ms MG Phuthi (Honours Secretary)

(021) 429 8309

phuthmg@unisa.ac.za

Departmental Secretary

(012) 429 8223

Departmental Fax

(021) 429 3414

3.2

Department

By letter
All correspondence with regard to problems experienced in studying a specific module or
arranging for an appointment with a lecturer must be addressed to:
The Department of Psychology
(Name of lecturer or paper concerned) Unisa
PO Box 392
UNISA
0003

Note: You may enclose more than one letter in an envelope, but do not address enquiries to
different departments (eg, Despatch and Library Services) in the same letter. This will cause a
delay in the replies to your enquiries. Please write a separate letter to each department and
mark each letter clearly for the attention of that department.
Please do not enclose letters to lecturers with your assignments. Always write your student
number and the study-unit code (PYC4808/PSY474V) at the top of all your correspondence
Via the WEB
You can also access us via the myUnisa discussion forum option at Unisas home page
(http://www.unisa.ac.za) on the web. Please note that you are also able to utilise this discussion
forum as a way to communicate with each other as students.
Please familiarise yourself with how myUnisa works. You will mostly be informed of
developments and announcements via myUnisa. Try to visit myUnisa as often as you can.
Always have your student number at hand when you contact the University.
PLEASE NOTE: OFFICE HOURS:

Lecturers: Monday to Friday 07:45 till 16:00

Sometimes lecturers have to attend meetings, training seminars, conferences, or present

discussion classes. Therefore they may not be in their offices at all times. If you cannot get hold
of a particular lecturer, leave a message on the lecturers voicemail or email the lecturer.
Alternatively, please phone the PYC4808 administrative module secretary, Ms Germinah
Phuthi, on (012) 429 8309.
Lecturers are available between 08:00 and 16:00 for consultations. They may be contacted
telephonically or via e-mail for discussions and appointments.
Also take note that no lecturers will be available from 2 4 December to mid January.
Please ensure that all your queries about the course are dealt with before these dates.
3.3

University

If you need to contact Unisa about matters not related to the content of this module, please
consult the brochure my Studies @ Unisa, which you should have received with your study
material. In this document you will find the contact details of various administrative departments.
If you did not receive this document and have access to the Internet, you can find it on myUnisa
under the Resources option. Remember to always have your student number ready when
making an enquiry.
Please ensure that you contact the correct section or department for each enquiry as this
will result in a speedy resolution of the enquiry.
The contact details are:
SMS

32695

Fax number (RSA only):

(012) 429 4150

Fax number (international):

+27 12 429 4150

E-mail address:

info@unisa.ac.za

(Only for students in South Africa)

PYC4808/101
Physical address:

University of South Africa

Preller Street
Muckleneuk
Pretoria
City of Tshwane

Postal address:

University of South Africa

PO Box 392
UNISA
0003

Online address

http://my.unisa.ac.za

Unisa website:

http://www.unisa.ac.za
http://mobi.unisa.ac.za

E-mail address:

study-info@unisa.ac.za

MODULE-RELATED RESOURCES

4.1

Prescribed books

Becvar D.S., & Becvar, R.J. (2013). Family therapy: A systemic integration (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn
& Bacon.
The prescribed book needs to be purchased as soon as possible from any official bookseller.
Please consult the list of official booksellers and their addresses in the brochure my Studies @
Unisa.
4.2

Recommended books

Cybernetics in General:
Books:
Goldenberg, I., & Goldenberg, H (2004). Family therapy: An overview (6th ed.). London:
Thompson.
Hoffman, L. (1981). Foundations of family therapy: A conceptual framework for systems change.
New York: Basic Books.

LIST OF RECOMMENDED BOOKS WITH BOOK NUMBERS

PYC4808/PSY474V 2014
The preferred way of requesting recommended or additional books is online
via the librarys catalogue.
Go to http://oasis.unisa.ac.za, or via myUnisa, go to http://my.unisa.ac.za >
Login > Library > Library catalogue,
Recommended books may also be requested telephonically from the Main
Library in Pretoria.
Please refer to section 5 Student support services for this module

Books are supplied subject to availability for PYC4808/PSY474V

TITLE
SHELF NUMBER

10

AUTHOR

Change : principles of problem formation

158.2 WATZ

Watzlawick, Paul.

Families and family therapy

616.89156 MINU

Minuchin, Salvador.

Family therapy : a systemic integration

616.89156 BECV

Becvar, Dorothy Strh

Family therapy : an overview

616.89156 GOLD

Goldenberg, Irene.

Foundations of family therapy

616.89156 HOFF

Hoffman, Lynn.

Milan systemic family therapy

616.89156 MILA

Boscolo, Luigi.

Pragmatics of human communication

152.384 WATZ

Watzlawick, Paul, 19

Strategies of psychotherapy
616.8914 HALE

Haley, Jay.

Therapy as social construction

616.8914 THER

McNamee, Sheila

PYC4808/101
4.3

Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves)

ELECTRONIC RESERVES ARTICLE LIST
PYC4808/PSY474V 2014

Beyond power and control: toward a "second order" family systems therapy / Lynn Hoffman.
Family Systems Medicine. Vol. 3, no. 4 (1985).
p. 381-396.
The client is the expert: a not-knowing approach to therapy / Harlene Anderson and Harold
Goolishian. Therapy as social construction. Edited by S. McNamee and K.J. Gergen. London:
Sage, 1992.
p. 25-39.
Family organization as an ecology of ideas: an alternative to the reification of family systems /
Jeffrey L. Bogdan.
Family process. Vol. 23 (1984).
p. 375-388.
Owning one's epistemological stance in therapy / James Griffith and Melissa Griffith.
Dulwich Centre newsletter. No. 1 (1992).
p. 5-11.
A reflexive stance for family therapy / Lynn Hoffman.
Therapy as social construction. Edited by S. McNamee and K.J. Gergen. London : Sage, 1992.
p. 7-24.
Thinking about thinking in family therapy / Edgar H. Auerswald.
Family process. Vol. 24 (1985).
p. 1-13.
Library materials obtainable from the list of e-reserves can be obtained in two ways namely:
(1)

Requesting the material from the library

(2)

Using the web to download the material from the Unisa OASIS Library Catalogue.

4.4

Journal articles

Auerswald, E.H. (1985). Thinking about thinking in family therapy. Family Process, 24, 1-13.
Bogdan, J.C. (1984). Family organisation as an ecology of ideas: An alternative to the reification
of family systems. Family Process, 23, 376-388.

11

First order cybernetics:

Books:
Haley, J. (1963). Strategies of psychotherapy. [US]: Psychological Corporation.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapies. London, UK: Tavistock.
Watzlawick, P., Beavin Bavelas, J.H., & Jackson, D.D. (1968). Pragmatics of human
communication: A study of interactional patterns, pathologies and paradoxes. London,
UK:Faber & Faber.
Watzlawick, P., Weakland, J.H., & Fisch, R. (1974). Change: Principles of problem formation
and problem resolution. New York: Norton.
Second order cybernetics:
Books:
Boscolo, L. (1987). Milan systemic family therapy: Conversations in theory and practice. New
York: Basic Books.
Chapters from books:
Anderson, H., & Goolishian, H. (1992). The client is the expert: A not-knowing approach to
therapy. In McNamee, S., & Gergen, K.J. (Eds.), Therapy as Social Construction (pp. 25-39).
London: Sage.
Hoffman, L. (1992). A reflexive stance for family therapy. In McNamee, S., & Gergen, K.J.
(Eds.), Therapy as Social Construction (pp. 7-24). London: Sage.
Journal articles:
Griffith, J.L., Griffith, M.E., & Slovik, l.S. (1992). Owning ones episte mological stance in
therapy. Dulwich Centre Newsletter, 1, 5-11.
Hoffman, L. (1985). Beyond power and control: Towards a second order family systems
therapy. Family Systems Medicine, 3, 381-396.
Tucker,
K.
(2000).
The
Milan
approach
http://www.priory.com/psych/milan.html.

to

family

therapy:

Critique.

Please consult the list of official booksellers and their addresses in the brochure my Studies @
Unisa.
Should you encounter any difficulties with obtaining books from the official booksellers, please
contact the Library as soon as possible at telephone number (012) 429 4152 (Nationally) and
+2712 429 4152 (Internationally) or by email: vospresc@unisa.ac.za.

12

PYC4808/101

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE

myUnisa

If you have access to a computer that is linked to the Internet, you can access resources and
information on the various Unisa websites. The myUnisa learning management system is the
universitys online campus that will help you to communicate with your lecturers, other students,
and the administrative departments of Unisa. You will be able to access administrative
information such as your biographical details, academic and assignment records, examination
dates and results, and financial records. Academic information that is available is comprised of
study material (such as tutorial letters and study guides), subject-related academic guidance,
discussion forums, announcements by your lecturers, and so forth.
myUnisa is an internet facility that all registered students have access to. To register for
myUnisa, click on the Join myUnisa link on the left navigation panel at the following address:
http://my.unisa.ac.za.
To go to the myUnisa website, start at the Unisa website (http://www.unisa.ac.za), and then
click on the Login to myUnisa link on the right-hand side of the screen. This should take you to
the myUnisa website. Alternatively, you can go there directly by typing http://my.unisa.ac.za into
your Internet browser. The following functions have been implemented
on myUnisa:
you can contact your lecturers via e-mail
you can download study material placed on myUnisa
you can check whether your assignments have been received and marked
you can submit written assignments via myUnisa
you can look up your assignment or exam marks as soon as they are
released
you can join a discussion forum (e.g. to discuss your course with other
students doing the same module)
you can order books from the library, and search for books on the library
database
Consult the brochure my Studies @ Unisa for more information.

STUDY GROUPS

It is advisable to have contact with fellow students. One way to do this is to form study
groups/networks. The addresses of students in your area may be obtained from my Studies @
unisa

13

UNISA LIBRARY
Online Library Services

The Unisa online library services can be accessed once you log in to http://www.unisa.ac.za.
Click on Library, and then on Library Catalogue. For further particulars on how to order
material from the library consult my Studies @ Unisa.

MODULE-SPECIFIC STUDY PLAN

Use your my Studies @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

MODULE PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

No practical work is required for this module.

ASSESSMENT

8.1

Assessment strategy

Three formative assessment tasks (assignments) and one cumulative assessment

task (examination) are set for this module.
Assignments
Please note that ALL three assignments are compulsory.
You will receive a mark out of 100 for each of the three assignments.

Assignment 1 counts 100 marks and registers you as an active student.

Assignment 2 counts 100 marks and contributes 50% towards your year mark
Assignment 3 counts 100 marks and contributes 50% towards your year mark

Examination mark
The examination counts 100 marks. 80% of your examination mark contributes to your final
mark for the course
The cumulative assessment task (examination) consists of a three hour examination at the end
of the academic year around October. You are expected to demonstrate your acquired skills
with regard to ecosystemic psychology by critically engaging in psychological discourse, without
having to reference your reading list.
Students who fail to obtain the required 50% (with a subminimum of 40%) for the year are
provided with the opportunity to write a supplementary examination in the following year.
Final Mark
Year mark (20%) + Examination mark (80%) = Final mark (100%)

14

PYC4808/101
8.1.1 Assessment plan
Your marks will be comprised of a year mark that will be gained from two written assignments
(20%) and a written examination of 3 hours (80%). All the assignments are individual written
tasks and are compulsory.
To be admitted to the examination you need to submit assignment 1, which will register you as
an active student.
Assignment 2 and 3 will each contribute 50% towards your year mark
Please remember that all 3 assignments are compulsory.
A 3 hour examination paper will be written at the end of the academic year, and will comprise
short questions and essay questions.
For moderation and quality assurance purposes, the first examiners set assignments and
examination questions and mark the assignment questions In the case of the examination, the
second examiner moderates the examination questions and the marked scripts, after which a
sample of the marked scripts is taken to the external examiner from another university who
moderates the scripts to determine the fairness and appropriateness of the marking and
assessment criteria and process.
.
8.2
General assignment numbers
Assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01. Please ensure that you
use the correct unique assignment number when submitting your assignments.
8.2.1

Unique assignment numbers

Assignment No
01
02
03
8.2.2

Unique No (PYC4808)
199603
536910
536936

Unique No (PSY474V)
537545
537553
537564

Due dates for assignments

Assignment No
01
02
03

Due Dates (PYC4808/PSY474V)

25 April 2014
30 May 2014
04 July 2014

NB: Always save and keep a copy of your assignment before making your final submission as
this protects your work in the case of loss. Please note that it is your responsibility to keep
records of your assignments.
8.3

Submission of assignments

For detailed information and requirements as far as submission of assignments is concerned

see my Studies @ Unisa, which you will receive with your tutorial letter.
15

This is the short version for submitting an assignment via myUnisa:

Go to myUnisa
Log in with your student number and password.
Select the module from the orange bar.
Click on assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
Click on the assignment number you want to submit.
Follow the instructions
If the system is down, do not panic. Lo off and try again. Re-submit your
assignment until the system has recovered. You will not be penalised for system
failures.
8.4

Assignments

The assignments in this course perform two major functions: They earn you admission to the
examination and they are important channels of communication and tuition.
According to the latest policies of the Department of Higher Education, the university has to
prove, by the 1st June of a particular academic year, that a registered student is actually an
active student.
This implies that we have to, by the 1st June, prove that you have been academically active in
that:

you have submitted Assignment 01

the assignment has been evaluated
you have received feedback on the assignment.
No extension will be granted for assignment 1

General: Please remember to give the assignment the same number as the one appearing in
this tutorial letter. Your student number, study-unit code, assignment number and unique
number should be given whenever you want information about an assignment. Students using
word processors should consult the brochure my Studies @ Unisa for requirements regarding
the format and paper to be used for assignments. E-mail all enquiries about assignments (ie,
whether they were received by the University, what mark was awarded, when they were
returned to you, etc.) to the Assignment Section. Students may submit written assignments
electronically via myUnisa. Assignments may not be submitted by fax or e-mail.
In addition to personal feedback provided in the assignments, feedback will be provided in a
feedback tutorial letter after all three assignments have been submitted.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking words, ideas and thoughts of others and passing them off as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves a number of dishonest academic activities.
The Disciplinary Code for Students is provided to all students at registration. Students are
advised to study the Code, especially Sections 2.1.13 and 2.1.4 (pp. 3-4). Kindly read the
Universitys Policy and the Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism Policy as well.

16

PYC4808/101
Please include the following declaration as a cover page for all 3 written assignments.
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using anothers

work and pretending that it is ones own work.
2. I have used the American Psychological Association (APA) as the
convention for citation and referencing. Each significant contribution to, and
quotation in, this assignment from the work, or works of other people has been
attributed and has been cited and referenced.
3. This assignment is my own work.
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as his or her own work.
5. I acknowledge that copying someone else's assignment, or part of it, is
wrong, and declare that this assignment is my own work

SIGNATURE: __________________________

DATE: _______________________________

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ASSIGNMENT 01 (COMPULSORY)
Closing Date: 25 April 2014
PLEASE NOTE: No extensions will be granted! Remember this assignment earns you
examination admission and registers you as an active student!
Unique Assignment Number for PYC4808: 199603
Unique Assignment Number for PSY474V: 537545
Assignment 1 introduces you to the different levels of knowledge, and how we come to view
reality. You are required to define concepts and provide psychology related examples to these
definitions.
The maximum length should be no longer than 2 typed pages (excluding your table of contents
and reference list). This assignment will be given a mark out of 100. Definitions should be
concise and to the point. A single paragraph or few sentences per definition is sufficient.
Dictionaries can be useful, however, please make use of academic resources. You may even
go back to your 3rd year research methodology books.
Remember to reference your work. Please refer to the American Psychological Association
(APA) for referencing styles and guidelines. You will be penalized for work that is not
referenced.
Copy and complete the following table:

Epistemology

Definition

Example

Epistemology is ...........................

(Provide your own Psychology related

examples)

......................................................
Theory

Theory is.......................................

......................................................

......................................................
Model

A model is ....................................

......................................................

......................................................
Technique

A technique is ..............................

......................................................

......................................................

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ASSIGNMENT 02 (COMPULSORY)
Closing date: 30 May 2014
Unique Assignment Number for PYC4808: 536910
Unique Assignment Number for PSY474V: 537553
PLEASE NOTE: This assignment is a written individual assignment and counts 50% towards
the total year mark. Your assignment should not exceed 6 typed pages
Assignment 2 introduces you to first and second order cybernetics and requires you to engage
in depth with your academic material. Familiarise yourself with the theory before answering the
assignment.
The maximum length of your assignment should be no longer than 6-8 pages (excluding your
table of contents and reference list).
Remember to reference your work. Please refer to the American Psychological Association
(APA) for referencing styles and guidelines. You will be penalized for work that is not
referenced.
Critically compare the epistemologies governing the first- and second order cybernetic
approaches and answer the following questions:
(1)

Name and define the first order cybernetic principles as described in your prescribed book
(20)

(2)

Name and define the second order principles as described in your prescribed book

(20)

(3)

How is reality seen by each specific approach?

(10)

Take some time to think about the ontological and epistemological principles which govern
each approach. For example, a first order cybernetic approach views reality as external to
the observer.
(4)

How is health and pathology addressed by each approach?

(10)

This question focuses on the way in which each of the two approaches address health and
pathology. For example, the second order cybernetic approach focuses on the context
within which symptomatic behaviour takes place.
(5)

How does each specific approach deal with therapy?

(10)

In other words, what is the notion of change involved in each approach? For example, the
intrapsychic approach may focus on strengthening the ego, while a first order cybernetic
approach may focus on altering interpersonal communication patterns.

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(6)

What is the role and function of the therapist in each specific approach?

(10)

Reflect on the position of the therapist in each approach. For example, a therapist
practising from a second order cybernetic perspective would not assume the position of
expert.
(7)

Which critical ethical concerns could be raised about each specific perspective?

(10)

This is a question intended to elicit your own responses. What do you enjoy about each
approach? What are your concerns? We hope that these and other questions will allow
you the space to reflect on what you have discovered, as well as to allow us a glimpse of
what you have learned.
(8)

In keeping with a both-and, rather than an either-or position, formulate ideas around how
the first- and second order cybernetic approaches can be integrated in a useful and
complementary way.
(10)
TOTAL 100 marks

ASSIGNMENT 03 (COMPULSORY)
Closing date: 4 July 2014
Unique Assignment Number for PYC4808: 536936
Unique Assignment Number for PSY474V: 537564
PLEASE NOTE: This assignment is a written individual assignment and counts 50% towards
the total year mark. Your assignment should not exceed 10 typed pages.
Assignment 2 introduced you to important concepts related to first and second order cybernetics,
and required you to apply these approaches to therapeutic, research, ethics and community
contexts. Assignment 3 builds upon assignment 2, and requires you to critically analyze a case
study and to apply the first and second order approaches appropriately.
Read the following case study, and answer the questions that follow:
Referral (intake) information
The Bird family consists of three members. John is 45 years old, Mavis is 42, and April, Maviss
daughter from a previous marriage (to Howard (50), an alcoholic and drug addict), is 15 years
old. Mavis divorced Howard when April was an infant, and she married John one year later.
Mavis formed a tight bond with April. The family presented for therapy with the complaint that
April cannot be trusted, and is often caught out in a lie.
Mavis grew up in a stepfamily, after her parents divorce when she was 5. She left home at 18,
after she was thrown out of the house by her stepmother when she returned home too late from
a party one night. In addition, her close female friend committed suicide at the time, and Mavis
then went to live with the late girlfriends mother. Her younger brother was labeled
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schizophrenic, while her older brother and sister grew up in different foster homes. Mavis
could never trust anyone in her youth, she believed people were unpredictable, and when trust
was broken, it was hard to repair.
John was an only son whose parents divorced when he was 7; both parents remarried, and
John grew up with his mother, her new husband (Alex), and a younger stepbrother, Alexander.
The stepfather had mood swings, threatened to kill John, and John tried to protect Alexander
from his own fathers anger. At 17 John left home. Later on in life he was attracted to the instant
family that Mavis and April represented. However, the bond between Mavis and John is
relatively weak at this point.
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
1.

Construe a three-generational genogram of this family system.

[10]

2.

Draw an ecomap (ecological map) of this family in context

(See, for example, Goldenberg et al, Chapter 4).

[10]

3.

Briefly describe
(a)

the story as seen from the perspective of each one of the family members

(b)

[10]
describe the story from the vantage point of the familys position in the family life cycle.
[10]

4.

Provide a first-order cybernetic description of this family.

[30]

5.

Provide a second-order cybernetic description of this family.

[30]
[100]

.
NOTE:
The prescribed textbook provides a simplified version of a genogram, however, we do expect
you to add more detail. Dont forget to include a key for the diagram. Please attach your
diagrams of the genogram and the ecomap to your assignment before submitting the completed
assignment online. Do not submit them separately.
When describing the story as seen from the perspectives of the different family members, do not
merely summarize or repeat the case study.
You must be able to construct genograms and ecological maps (ecomap) of all the case studies
that are provided.
Please ensure that you structure your assignment appropriately, with a table of contents, an
introduction, the body of the assignment, a conclusion and a list of references.
Remember to reference your work. Please refer to the American Psychological Association
(APA) for referencing styles and guidelines. You will be penalized for work that is not
referenced.

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OTHER ASSESSMENT METHODS

There are no other assessment methods for this module code. There are no group discussions
for this module.

10

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The my Studies @ Unisa brochure contains an A-Z guide of the most relevant study
information.

11

CONCLUSION

We hope that your journey will be exciting and a challenge to your thinking.
Good luck for your studies!

Dr Andronic Gondani
Mr Gcina Kheswa
Mr Khonzanani Mbatha
Ms Nikki Themistocleous
Dr Beate von Krosigk

YOUR LECTURERS IN ECOSYSTEMIC PSYCHOLOGY

PYC4808/PSY474V

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