Ecosystemic Assignment 2

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MOROANE T.K 47950102 | ECOSYSTEMIC PSYCHOLOGY - PYC 808 | ASSGINMENT 2 | Critically compare the epistemologies governing the first and second order cybernetic approaches in terms of the following: 1. How is reality seen by specific approach? Describing reality is a challenge as is something that is unseen and untouchable. The first order cybernetic approach talks of the system that is entirely independent to the observer, while the second order cybernetic approach talks of systems that observe themselves. Hoffman (1985) challenges the way reality is viewed in second order cybernetic as he believes that people could never be sure as to what they think they saw is actually real or is actually there. From the first order cybernetic approach the epistemological principle view reality as something that can be learned through the process of observation and at the same time the whoever has went through that process will not be influenced by the same process. Individual can observe themselves; reality is how the individual see themselves without looking at the outside world. (Becvar & Becvar, 2006). According to Becvar at al (2006) the therapist in the second order cybernetic approach has to take note that their observation can be influenced by the process and reality will be a challenge as they will have to consider the perception of their clients and their own perception. Looking at both the approaches reality is seen or view as perceptions created by the individual. 2. How is health and pathology addressed by each approach? To define pathology one would need to have a reference of normalcy. The idea of a reference is often found in first-order approaches such as in the structural family therapy approach. Here there needs to be a model of normality against which to base its assumptions of deviance. This is achieved through interviews with
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