PYC4808
Assessment 3
Exam Portfolio
Due 17 September 2025
,PYC4808
Assessment 3
EXAM PORTFOLIO
Due 17 September 2025
Ecosystemic Psychology
Question 1: Ecomap of the Jackson Family Dynamics
An ecomap is a visual representation developed to depict the interconnections between
a family system and its external social networks, highlighting both supportive and
stressful influences (Hartman, 1978). The Jackson family is positioned at the centre,
surrounded by external systems connected via lines of varying quality: solid lines
(strong/supportive), dashed lines (tenuous/weak), jagged lines (stressful/conflictual),
and arrows (direction of energy or resources). Since a diagram cannot be directly
illustrated here, the following textual account outlines the structure of the Jackson
family’s ecomap and can be replicated using tools such as GenoPro or Draw.io.
Central Family Unit
At the centre is the Jackson Family, comprising six members:
• George (71, assisted living)
• Evelyn (65, home, chronic health issues)
• David (45, engineer)
• Laura (41, teacher)
• Jake (17, student, symptomatic)
• Lily (13, student, well-adjusted)
, External Systems and Connections
1. Jake’s High School
➢ Jake ↔ School: Jagged line (stressful: academic decline, social
withdrawal, referral to therapy).
➢ Family ↔ School: Dashed line (tenuous: counsellor involvement met with
David’s scepticism).
➢ Arrow: From school → Jake (academic and athletic pressure).
2. Cricket Team (former)
➢ Jake ↔ Team: Dashed line (tenuous: withdrawal after quitting).
➢ Arrow: Stressful energy from team → Jake (loss of social outlet, identity
disruption).
3. Internship Program (Accounting Firm)
➢ Jake ↔ Internship: Jagged line (stressful rejection triggered
hopelessness).
4. Gaming / Online World
➢ Jake ↔ Gaming: Solid line (supportive escape but isolating).
5. Lily’s School and Drama Club
➢ Lily ↔ School: Solid line (positive: thriving academically and socially).
➢ Arrow: Lily → school (energy outflow: commitment to rehearsals,
independence).
➢ Lily ↔ Drama Club: Solid line (supportive peer network; healthy
adjustment).
6. David’s Workplace (Engineering Firm)
➢ David ↔ Work: Solid line (positive: pragmatic focus, stability).
Assessment 3
Exam Portfolio
Due 17 September 2025
,PYC4808
Assessment 3
EXAM PORTFOLIO
Due 17 September 2025
Ecosystemic Psychology
Question 1: Ecomap of the Jackson Family Dynamics
An ecomap is a visual representation developed to depict the interconnections between
a family system and its external social networks, highlighting both supportive and
stressful influences (Hartman, 1978). The Jackson family is positioned at the centre,
surrounded by external systems connected via lines of varying quality: solid lines
(strong/supportive), dashed lines (tenuous/weak), jagged lines (stressful/conflictual),
and arrows (direction of energy or resources). Since a diagram cannot be directly
illustrated here, the following textual account outlines the structure of the Jackson
family’s ecomap and can be replicated using tools such as GenoPro or Draw.io.
Central Family Unit
At the centre is the Jackson Family, comprising six members:
• George (71, assisted living)
• Evelyn (65, home, chronic health issues)
• David (45, engineer)
• Laura (41, teacher)
• Jake (17, student, symptomatic)
• Lily (13, student, well-adjusted)
, External Systems and Connections
1. Jake’s High School
➢ Jake ↔ School: Jagged line (stressful: academic decline, social
withdrawal, referral to therapy).
➢ Family ↔ School: Dashed line (tenuous: counsellor involvement met with
David’s scepticism).
➢ Arrow: From school → Jake (academic and athletic pressure).
2. Cricket Team (former)
➢ Jake ↔ Team: Dashed line (tenuous: withdrawal after quitting).
➢ Arrow: Stressful energy from team → Jake (loss of social outlet, identity
disruption).
3. Internship Program (Accounting Firm)
➢ Jake ↔ Internship: Jagged line (stressful rejection triggered
hopelessness).
4. Gaming / Online World
➢ Jake ↔ Gaming: Solid line (supportive escape but isolating).
5. Lily’s School and Drama Club
➢ Lily ↔ School: Solid line (positive: thriving academically and socially).
➢ Arrow: Lily → school (energy outflow: commitment to rehearsals,
independence).
➢ Lily ↔ Drama Club: Solid line (supportive peer network; healthy
adjustment).
6. David’s Workplace (Engineering Firm)
➢ David ↔ Work: Solid line (positive: pragmatic focus, stability).
