First Order Cybernetics and Second Order Cybernetics: A critical comparison
First Order Cybernetics and Second Order
Cybernetics: A critical comparison.
PYC 4808: Assignment 02
Unique Number: 825764
STUDENT NUMBER
57075034
MR. V.M.L. NONKWELO
19May 2017
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 0
, First Order Cybernetics and Second Order Cybernetics: A critical comparison
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another‟s work and
pretending that it is one‟s 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 parts of it, is
wrong, and declare that this assignment is my own work.
NAME VUSIKHAYA MARTIN LUTHER NONKWELO
: ______________________________________
SIGNATURE : ______________________________________
DATE 19 MAY 2017
: ______________________________________
PYC 4808
MODULE CODE : __________________________________
ASSIGNMENT 02
: ______________________________________
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 1
, First Order Cybernetics and Second Order Cybernetics: A critical comparison
In Western society, people are socialized into assuming that a linear cause/effect
approach to understanding the world we live in is appropriate. In a linear cause/effect
approach, it is assumed that event A causes event B in a unidirectional way. In contrast
to this, cybernetic thinking believes in circular causality. In cybernetics, the content of
systems is not that important, the primary concern is how these systems function. Even
within cybernetics, two strands can be discerned; a First Order Cybernetics as well as a
Second Order Cybernetics. This paper looks at the epistemologies governing these two
strands of cybernetics.
1. Compare how reality is seen by First Order Cybernetics and Second Order
Cybernetics.
When it comes to First Order Cybernetics, reality is interpreted as an objective truth
that can be discovered, obtained and can then be viewed by a number of people. In
other words, the First Order cybernetics position is that there is a single, objective
reality or “universe” which can be arrived at or discovered. The First order
cybernetics assumes that because reality is objective, an independent observer can
observe reality and not be affected by it; although the said observer has the ability to
influence the observed reality (Becvar & Becvar, 2006). Due to this, the First Order
Cybernetics believes that a therapist can view someone else‟s reality from the
outside, and initiate an intervention. On the other hand, Second Order Cybernetics
sees reality as a social construct. In other words, “we do not discover the world out
there, but instead invent it” (Dallos & Urry, 1999: 165).In this approach, reality is
dependent on the observer. This means that what different individuals perceive is
not necessarily matched by events and objects in the real world. By implication, this
means that Second Order Cybernetics sees reality as being subjective as well as
being a “multiverse”. This “multiverse” of a reality simply means that each person is
able to create their own reality, and therefore each person‟s reality is different from
that of the next person. Though different, these realities are personally true and valid
(Becvar & Becvar: 2006). In Second Order Cybernetics, therapists acknowledge that
they, too, become part of the observed. Therefore, therapists understand that they
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 2
First Order Cybernetics and Second Order
Cybernetics: A critical comparison.
PYC 4808: Assignment 02
Unique Number: 825764
STUDENT NUMBER
57075034
MR. V.M.L. NONKWELO
19May 2017
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 0
, First Order Cybernetics and Second Order Cybernetics: A critical comparison
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another‟s work and
pretending that it is one‟s 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 parts of it, is
wrong, and declare that this assignment is my own work.
NAME VUSIKHAYA MARTIN LUTHER NONKWELO
: ______________________________________
SIGNATURE : ______________________________________
DATE 19 MAY 2017
: ______________________________________
PYC 4808
MODULE CODE : __________________________________
ASSIGNMENT 02
: ______________________________________
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 1
, First Order Cybernetics and Second Order Cybernetics: A critical comparison
In Western society, people are socialized into assuming that a linear cause/effect
approach to understanding the world we live in is appropriate. In a linear cause/effect
approach, it is assumed that event A causes event B in a unidirectional way. In contrast
to this, cybernetic thinking believes in circular causality. In cybernetics, the content of
systems is not that important, the primary concern is how these systems function. Even
within cybernetics, two strands can be discerned; a First Order Cybernetics as well as a
Second Order Cybernetics. This paper looks at the epistemologies governing these two
strands of cybernetics.
1. Compare how reality is seen by First Order Cybernetics and Second Order
Cybernetics.
When it comes to First Order Cybernetics, reality is interpreted as an objective truth
that can be discovered, obtained and can then be viewed by a number of people. In
other words, the First Order cybernetics position is that there is a single, objective
reality or “universe” which can be arrived at or discovered. The First order
cybernetics assumes that because reality is objective, an independent observer can
observe reality and not be affected by it; although the said observer has the ability to
influence the observed reality (Becvar & Becvar, 2006). Due to this, the First Order
Cybernetics believes that a therapist can view someone else‟s reality from the
outside, and initiate an intervention. On the other hand, Second Order Cybernetics
sees reality as a social construct. In other words, “we do not discover the world out
there, but instead invent it” (Dallos & Urry, 1999: 165).In this approach, reality is
dependent on the observer. This means that what different individuals perceive is
not necessarily matched by events and objects in the real world. By implication, this
means that Second Order Cybernetics sees reality as being subjective as well as
being a “multiverse”. This “multiverse” of a reality simply means that each person is
able to create their own reality, and therefore each person‟s reality is different from
that of the next person. Though different, these realities are personally true and valid
(Becvar & Becvar: 2006). In Second Order Cybernetics, therapists acknowledge that
they, too, become part of the observed. Therefore, therapists understand that they
VML NONKWELO: 57075034 Page 2
