Page 56 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology as a Challenge

followed, id est fluence development throughout our lifespan.
• A critical evaluation of the meta-theoretical These systems are the micro-system (the direct
perspectives underpinning Community Psy- environment such as the family system), the
chology from a Biblical Worldview perspective; meso-system (the social environment, such as
• The application of a Biblically based systemic the school or church), the exosystem (systems
approach to Community Psychology; influencing the child environment indirectly,
• The execution of a practicum that focuses on such as a father that works abroad), the ma-
the application and practice of the theoretical crosystem (socio-economic status and cultural
grounding of Community Psychology inclu- contexts) and the chronosystem (transitions
ding a Biblically based systemic approach. This during the lifespan).
component of the course entails that students
engage in community service learning or pro- Von Bertalanffy (1962) describes a system as a
ject work, group supervision and self-reflexive complex of components in reciprocal interac-
report writing that is relevant to the South Af- tion. This implies that all systems are interre-
rican context. Students were expected to engage lated and a change on one level or in one part
in and write about: (a) an appreciative inquiry would have an effect on all other systems. The
regarding HIV/AIDS community resources and whole is considered to be greater than the sum
needs or any other community of their choice; of its parts and any phenomenon should be con-
and, (b) a community intervention project with sidered the result of a circular dynamic process
a Christian social activist approach. rather than a linear process of cause and effect.

As a result of the abovementioned process a The circular dynamic process emerges from
Christian Community Psychology approach feedback loops that exist between the different
was developed to compliment the eco-systemic systems and subsystems and describe patterns
perspective. of interaction. When these patterns of inter-
action facilitate movement towards stability
Eco-systemic Perspective (morphostasis) it is called negative feedback
According to Kirsten, Van der Walt and Viljo- loops and when it facilitate movement towards
en (2009) eco-systemic anthropology elicits a change (morphogenesis) it is called positive
paradigm shift towards health, wellbeing and feedback loops. (The terms negative and posi-
wellness. The assumption underlying this ap- tive do not refer to any judgement of good or
proach states the the human being is a whole bad.) The patterns of communication pertain to
person and dispute the dichotomy of body and information about events in the system or new
mind. Health, including mental health, should information entering from an external source,
be approach from a multi-dimensional and which is again part of a wider system. Both ty-
multi-disciplinary position. pes of feedback loops are required for growth in
Health and wellbeing is further viewed in the a system and the achievement of goals.
context of resilience, strengths and fulfillment,
rather than the absence of pathology. It is based A Biblical perspective on systems theory sup-
on an interplay of biological, social, psycholo- ports many of these assumptions but careful
gical and spiritual factors. Thus, a biopsycho- consideration, evaluation and reconstruction is
socio/spiritual systemic approach is followed to required to place this approach on a truly Bibli-
describe and interpret illness, identify saluto- cal foundation.
genic factors, discover resilience embedded in
communities and design preventative measures A Biblically Based Systemic Perspective
and other interventions to promote physical The development of Christian Community
and mental health. Psychology, which reflects a Biblically based
understanding of the human psyche and com-
Bronfenbrenner (1999) distinguishes between munities with their strengths and weaknesses
five different environmental systems that in- was based on Biblical worldview statements as

55