Ecosystemic Psychology PYC4808
Assignment 5 Questions and Answers
Chapters covered for Answers Chapter 4 – Postmodernism and Family Therapy
Chapter 10 – The Structural approach
Chapter 12 – Strategic Approaches and the Milan Influence
Chapter 13 – Postmodern Approaches
Chapter 14 – Family Assessment
Chapter 15 – Therapeutic Intervention and Perturbation
Question Answer
Read the following case study, and answer questions 1-3 below.
Case Study:
Portia is a 26-year-old medical student, who is currently completing her internship at Baragwaneth Hospital. Since she started
her long work hours, she has developed insomnia. The lack of sleep has started impacting on her performance at work, and
her supervisor referred her to a psychologist to assist with possible stress, and the triggers for the insomnia. Tobias, the
psychologist, suggested that she try listening to soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1
hour before bed. After 2 weeks, Portia’s insomnia did not get any better. Tobias then suggested that when she cannot sleep,
instead of trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house.
Question 1: The correct answer is 2.
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘listen to Explanation: The psychologist’s initial intervention was based
soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and on a logical solution to the problem which did not challenge the
limit screen time 1 hour before bed’ can best be rules of the system. First order change is consistent with the
described as: rules of the system and does not alter the underlying
organisation of the system.
1. Perturbation
2. First order change Therefore, the solution of listening to soothing music and
3. Second order change taking a hot bath before bed, is an attempt to address Portia’s
symptoms instead of addressing the systemic organisation
4. Maintaining the status quo
that gives rise to her symptoms.
Question 2: The correct answer is 2.
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘instead of Explanation: The psychologist’s suggestion to get up and
trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the clean the house is counterintuitive and illogical, as it requires
house’ can best be described as: her to do more work when she is unable to sleep. By doing
this, Portia no longer tries to fall sleep, but instead does more
1. First order change
work, which is presumably the real systemic problem.
2. Second order change
3. Reductionistic When this is done knowingly, i.e., Portia intentionally tries to
stay awake to do more work, it shifts the control that the
4. Modernist
symptom has over Portia into her own hands. The symptom
is no longer something that controls Portia, but Portia
controls the symptom by purposefully trying to stay awake
through doing more work.
Furthermore, this intervention will also make the symptom
become untenable in the long term, and the system will be
challenged to reorganise in the way that Portia relates to her
work schedule. This intervention is known as prescribing the
symptom.
Question 3: The correct answer is 1.
Assignment 5 Questions and Answers
Chapters covered for Answers Chapter 4 – Postmodernism and Family Therapy
Chapter 10 – The Structural approach
Chapter 12 – Strategic Approaches and the Milan Influence
Chapter 13 – Postmodern Approaches
Chapter 14 – Family Assessment
Chapter 15 – Therapeutic Intervention and Perturbation
Question Answer
Read the following case study, and answer questions 1-3 below.
Case Study:
Portia is a 26-year-old medical student, who is currently completing her internship at Baragwaneth Hospital. Since she started
her long work hours, she has developed insomnia. The lack of sleep has started impacting on her performance at work, and
her supervisor referred her to a psychologist to assist with possible stress, and the triggers for the insomnia. Tobias, the
psychologist, suggested that she try listening to soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and limit screen time 1
hour before bed. After 2 weeks, Portia’s insomnia did not get any better. Tobias then suggested that when she cannot sleep,
instead of trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the house.
Question 1: The correct answer is 2.
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘listen to Explanation: The psychologist’s initial intervention was based
soothing music, take a hot bath before going to bed, and on a logical solution to the problem which did not challenge the
limit screen time 1 hour before bed’ can best be rules of the system. First order change is consistent with the
described as: rules of the system and does not alter the underlying
organisation of the system.
1. Perturbation
2. First order change Therefore, the solution of listening to soothing music and
3. Second order change taking a hot bath before bed, is an attempt to address Portia’s
symptoms instead of addressing the systemic organisation
4. Maintaining the status quo
that gives rise to her symptoms.
Question 2: The correct answer is 2.
The suggestion from the psychologist to ‘instead of Explanation: The psychologist’s suggestion to get up and
trying to fall asleep, Portia should get up and clean the clean the house is counterintuitive and illogical, as it requires
house’ can best be described as: her to do more work when she is unable to sleep. By doing
this, Portia no longer tries to fall sleep, but instead does more
1. First order change
work, which is presumably the real systemic problem.
2. Second order change
3. Reductionistic When this is done knowingly, i.e., Portia intentionally tries to
stay awake to do more work, it shifts the control that the
4. Modernist
symptom has over Portia into her own hands. The symptom
is no longer something that controls Portia, but Portia
controls the symptom by purposefully trying to stay awake
through doing more work.
Furthermore, this intervention will also make the symptom
become untenable in the long term, and the system will be
challenged to reorganise in the way that Portia relates to her
work schedule. This intervention is known as prescribing the
symptom.
Question 3: The correct answer is 1.
