The concept of Psychic Energy holds a very important position in the field of Psychoanalysis, particularly within the theories of Sigmund Freud. These ideas, including the notion of a constancy of excitation, or the ‘pleasure principle’, as well as energy transfer and ‘cathexis’, are important not only historically in terms of the subsequent development of Psychoanalytic theory, but also remain a core conceptual assumption of a number of concepts in contemporary use. However, the central ideas related to psychic energy have undergone little substantial revision or development since the end of Freud’s career, despite a number of compelling critiques that call into question the central definitions and assumptions of these concepts, particularly the principles defining their governance. Grobbelaar (1989) has suggested that a number of problems within Psychoanalytic theory can be powerfully addressed through recourse to central propositions from the field of systems theory, and the case is made in the present thesis that some of the core problems with the energic theory may indeed be the result of a pre-systems epistemology. The present study proposes that psychic energy be defined as recursively constituted through three levels of the human system (inorganic, organic and informational), and that the core principles of regulation at the informational level is not constancy, or pleasure, but rather the necessity of maintaining organisation. In line with this proposition, the study reviews a number of theoretical propositions from systems theory and cybernetics (including the notions of energy defined as ‘information’ or ‘free energy’) and how they may be usefully deployed as principles of organisation of psychic energy within the psychoanalytic framework. Examples of how these principles may be used to explain Freud’s core observations of ego functioning are presented as well. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

Esta dissertação aborda a educação digital dentro da contemporaneidade, tendo como base dois pontos de articulação essenciais: a cibernética pedagógica e a era das redes. Traça portanto um panorama das relações pertinentes a cada um dos tópicos, fundamentando questões conceituais de relevância para o entendimento da complexidade do assunto apresentado. Para tal elenca tópicos que caracterizam as dimensões essenciais de mudanças paradigmáticas, como a sociedade na era das redes, a educação digital na era das redes, a evolução dos suportes tecnológicos com implicações paradigmáticas no campo educacional e megatendências evolutivas do conhecimento em rede. Acrescenta ainda um estudo de caso consubstanciando a validade dos tópicos apresentados do ponto de vista conceitual e prático. O trabalho desenvolve-se com base principalmente nas leituras de literatura especializada, e no registro de diversas fontes documentacionais complementares que atestam a multidimensionalidade informacional em um mundo povoado por redes de comunicação e informação. Cada fonte ao seu modo contribuiu para tecido conceitual do trabalho. A Internet foi fonte fundamental para tratar certas questões de ponta no campo da educação digital. / This dissertation presents the digital education within the contemporary times. The basis of this work comprises of two essential viewpoints: the pedagogical cybernetics and the age of networks. It also points out a panorama of the relations belonging to each topic, by establishing several relevant conceptual issues for the understanding of complexity about the topics. The study selects several topics in order to distinguish the essential dimensions in the paradigmatic changes, such as the society in the age of networks, the digital education in the age of networks, the evolution of technological instruments by considering paradigmatic implications in the educational field, and developing megatendencies of knowledge network. It still adds a case study for validating the presented topics under a conceptual and practical perspective. The discussion was based mostly in the reading of specialists literature, and in the selecting of several complementary documentation sources, which testifies the informational multidimensionality in a world of intense communication and information networks. Every source in its peculiar way provided resources for the conceptual tissue of the study. Internet was also a very fundamental source for treating some very advanced issues according to the digital education field.

Os processos de produção de arte eletrônica contemporânea (pós-anos 1990) são discutidos sob a ótica da cibernética de segunda ordem, cujos princípios consideram o observador durante a observação dos sistemas, analisando como circular a relação entre observador e observado. A metodologia empregada baseia-se na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados, cujo argumento emerge do entrecruzamento do arcabouço teórico sobre o assunto com as informações coletadas através de observações, conversas e entrevistas. A análise se desenvolve em três capítulos, todos atravessados pela exploração das relações entre acidente e controle no campo da arte eletrônica. No primeiro capítulo levamos em consideração os aspectos conceituais e estruturais da produção artística em questão. No segundo, exploramos as relações que se tecem entre agentes criativos durante o processo, observando tal produção enquanto sistema social pautado em conversações. No terceiro, vislumbramos a experiência criativa coletiva enquanto possibilidade de construção de espaços de conhecimento, e arriscamos uma auto-crítica sobre o que apreendemos sobre o processo de produção da arte eletrônica. Nossas considerações finais trazem nossa apreensão para as relações entre a arte eletrônica e a arquitetura, apontado para o caráter utópico de nossos argumentos. / The production processes on contemporary media art (post-1990\'s) are discussed through the second order cybernetics perspective, whose principles study the observer and observed as a circular motion. The research methodology is based on the Grounded Theory. The argument emerges by blending together the theoretical framework on the subject with the information collected through observations, conversations and interviews. The analysis is developed in three chapters, all interrelated exploring the relationships between accident and control in the media art field. In the first chapter the conceptual structure of this artistic production is analyzed. In the second chapter, we explore the relationships that emerge between creative agents during the process, observing such production as a social system being ruled by conversation. In the third chapter, picturing the collective creative experience as means to the construction of knowledge spaces, we apply to the architectural field what we learned about the production process of media art. Our final conclusions bring our perception to the relations between media art and architecture leading to the utopian character of our arguments.

A pesquisa trata da compreensão da atividade de projetar através de abordagens que propõem a concepção de conversação ou diálogo na caracterização do processo projetual em arquitetura. Investigamos o surgimento destas abordagens na segunda metade do século XX e começo do século XXI, cuidando em apresentar uma leitura das transformações nos modos de se ver tanto o design quanto o designer arquitetônico, dentro do recorte temático a que nos referimos como \'horizonte da conversação\'. Realizamos uma revisão sobre aspectos conceituais centrais às visões de teóricos do design que, além da arquitetura, transitam por outros domínios do saber como filosofia e cibernética, e que reconhecem o design como uma troca dialógica envolvendo tanto a transformação da situação projetual quanto a transformação do próprio designer pela percepção de consequências não intencionais de suas ações projetuais. A partir desta revisão, elaboramos uma reflexão sobre uma ordem de preocupações compartilhadas entre as abordagens de nosso horizonte temático, pela qual buscamos o desenvolvimento de um entendimento mais abrangente e enriquecido sobre o processo projetual arquitetônico. / The research deals with the understanding of the design activity by approaches which proposes the concept of conversation or dialogue in the characterization of the design process in architecture. We investigate the emergence of these approaches in the second half of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century, taking care to present a reading of underlying changes in the ways of seeing of both design and the architectural designer in the thematic focus we refer as horizon of conversation\'. We accomplished a review of central conceptual issues to views of design theorists that in addition to architecture, transiting through other domains of knowledge as philosophy and cybernetics, and recognize design as a dialogic exchange involving both the transformation of the design situation and the designer himself by the perception of unintended consequences of their design actions. From this review, we present a reflection about an order of shared concerns between the approaches of our thematic horizon, which we seek the development of a broader and enriched understanding of design process.

A pesquisa visa a estudar as inter-relações1 entre os processos de projeto da arquitetura contemporânea, mediados por tecnologia computacional, e os processos da biologia, com o olhar sob os conceitos da ecologia, apoiados na teoria dos sistemas e na cibernética. As análises pretendem relacionar questões de âmbitos teórico e prático, dentro da observação dos processos de projeto, por meio das seguintes etapas: 1. Introdução e compreensão das atuais mudanças de paradigma nas áreas da biologia, ecologia e ciência da computação, que influenciam diretamente os modos de produção de informação nos processos de projeto digital em arquitetura; 2. Reflexões sobre a teoria da cibernética e sistemas complexos como costuradores dos processos biológicos aos processos de projeto de arquitetura, com implicações em emergência e inovação em arquitetura e 3. Análises práticas da integração de processos de projeto e produção digitais recorrentes das interrelações da arquitetura com a biologia. / The research aims to study the interrelationship between the contemporary architecture design processes, mediated by computer technology and the biology processes, with a view under the concepts of ecology, supported on system theory and cybernetics. The analyzes aim to relate issues on the spheres of theory and practice, within the observation of design processes, through the following steps: 1. Introduction and understanding of the current paradigm shifts in biology, ecology and computer science, which directly holds the modes of producing information in architecture digital design processes; 2. Thoughts on cybernetic theory and complex systems like links between biological processes and architectural design processes, with implications in emergence and innovation in architecture 3. Analyses of study cases about design processes and digital production integration recurrent from the interrelationship between architecture and biology.

The aim of this study is to define and describe a scientific problem solving capability to be used by the Institute for Maritime Technology (IMT) in its Decision Support Domain in order to provide a scientific support service to decision makers in the South African Navy. Cognisance is given to the fact that the context within which this scientific service functions is of a complex nature, and so are some of the problems which the Decision Support Domain are required to study. For this reason a methodology developed by the proponents of complexity modelling for management and organisational science, namely to approach the problem through “Perspective Filters” is used. The aim is therefore to identify emergent patterns in the development of various disciplines commonly utilised for problem solving. Their respective developments during the twentieth century are studied with this stated aim in mind. Scientific method is seen to be a dominant perspective in this pursuit. The outcome of the study is a proposed generic, pluralist scientific problem solving process which provides a stable definition of such a service despite its constantly changing environment. This greatly enhances the robustness of the service, which makes it cost-effective to develop. The definition of pluralism which is used in this study, and which underpins the definition of the capability, differs from other current dominant views of pluralism in that it upholds the realist aim of science. Although this process is developed in the specific context of IMT, its generic nature makes it a general knowledge technology for any such a service with the aim of providing a scientific service, not limited to the context within which it is developed. / Dissertation (MSc (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / unrestricted

The provision of leisure and recreation has the potential to vitalise and change lower socio-economic communities. The benefits of leisure and recreation participation are, however, absent in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort, as recreation and leisure activities are not seen as necessary needs that should be provided for the residents. Lower socio-economic status communities tend to suffer as a consequence of the often subliminal assumptions and reactions of well-meaning people. A major barrier to the implementation of recreation programmes in lower socio-economic communities remains the fact that these programmes often fall into the ambit of non-profit organisations, whose first priority does not usually include recreation provision. Second-order cybernetics theory is introduced in this study as a possible alternative approach to recreation provision in lower socio-economic communities. Engaging in a second-order cybernetics approach, the recreation provider can look beyond the feedback patterns utilised by a community to maintain its status quo, and work with and within a community to establish a sustainable recreation programme. Through the use of a second-order cybernetics approach, the residents of a lower socio-economic status community will no longer be regarded as the ‘observed’ participants of a programme that has been designed by an ‘observer’ and ‘expert’ recreation provider, but will, rather, participate in and share the responsibility of designing their own recreation programme for the community. The following three hypotheses were formulated:<ul> <li>Recreation provision in lower socio-economic communities will benefit from a second-order cybernetics approach.</li> <li>Sustainable recreation provision in a lower socio-economic status community will enhance the quality of life of the residents engaging in the activities available within the community.</li> <li>Second-order recreation provision in a lower socio-economic community will create an environment that is likely to be beneficial for social change</li></ul> In order for the hypotheses to be tested, the aims of the study were:<ul> <li>To examine the influence of recreation and leisure opportunities as a means of improving and maintaining social cohesion and quality of life in lower socio-economic status communities.</li> <li>To identify the barriers to providing and maintaining a comprehensive, sustainable recreation programme in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>To understand the way in which the residents of Danville and Elandspoort view recreation and recreation provision within the communities.</li> <li>To identify the similarities and differences between the current approach to recreational provision in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort and a second-order cybernetics approach.</li></ul> Grounded in a qualitative framework, the research methods for the study included a literature review, the use of focus groups and vignette techniques, and observation. The sampling for the focus groups was done by means of convenience sampling. In total, six focus groups, which were segmented by place of attendance, participated. A total of 60 participants were used in the study, excluding the residents to whom the researcher spoke throughout the course of the study, and as part of the observation. It was found that a positive relationship exists between lower socio-economic status and inappropriate recreation programming. Lower socio-economic status communities are excluded from participation by means of several barriers, including factors such as cost of participation, registration fees and transport. An important barrier to recreation participation in the lower socio-economic status communities of Danville and Elandspoort that was identified in the study was the absence of recreation facilities in the communities. Residents confirmed that television and the consumption of alcohol were the main recreation activities in the communities. The responses provided in focus group discussions confirmed the fact that residents felt excluded from society, and that they also assumed that leisure and recreation activities were privileges that were reserved only for the middle and higher socio-economic status communities. Residents within the communities did not only feel excluded from society, but also felt powerless to do something about the situation. In response to the question concerning their perception of quality of life within the communities, participants demonstrated that they felt that recreation programming would be a positive contribution to the communities’ perception of a better quality of life. A second-order approach to recreation provision in the communities of Danville and Elandspoort will assist in facilitating a process of social change within the communities by including residents in the planning and provision of a community recreation programme. In order to utilize the full potential of leisure and recreation provision in the lower socio-economic communities of Danville and Elandspoort, the following aspects are suggested for the undertaking of any further research: <ul> <li>The potential of leisure and recreation provision to facilitate social change in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>Real barriers versus perceived barriers to recreation provision and recreation participation in a lower socio-economic community.</li> <li>Second-order cybernetics recreation provision as a community development approach: implementation and evaluation of change and sustainability within the community.</li></ul> AFRIKAANS : Die voorsiening van rekreasie in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskap het die inherente vermoë om ‘n positiewe verandering in die gemeenskap te bring. Die voordeel van rekreasie kan egter nie in die lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort verwesenlik en bydrae tot ‘n hoër persepsie van lewenskwaliteit nie, aangesien rekreasievoorsiening dikwels nie gesien word as ‘n nodige behoefte in die versorging van lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe nie. Die voorsiening van behoeftes in lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe val dikwels onder die vaandel van geloofsgroepe (kerke), nie-winsgewende organisasies en vrywilligers wat, alhoewel met goeie bedoelings, dikwels onbewustelik as ‘kenners’ namens die gemeenskap besluite neem. ‘n Tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering tot rekreasievoorsiening word in die studie voorgestel as ‘n moontlike alternatief tot die huidige benadering in lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe. Die gebruik van ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering gee die rekreasievoorsiener die geleentheid om verby die gemeenskap se terugvoer patrone te kyk, en saam met die gemeenskap ‘n volhoubare rekreasieprogram te ontwikkel. ‘n Tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering tot rekreasie voorsiening verander die posisie van die gemeenskapslede van ‘geobserveerde’ deelnemers aan ‘n rekreasie program ontwerp deur ‘n ‘observerende’ rekreasiekundige, na ‘n deelnemende rol in die ontwerp van die rekreasie program vir die gemeenskap. Die volgende drie hipoteses is geformuleer in antwoord op die navorsings probleem: <ul> <li>Rekreasie voorsiening in lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe sal positief beïnvloed word deur ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering.</li> <li>‘n Volhoubare rekreasie program en geleenthede vir rekreasie deelname in die lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort sal die gemeenskap se persepsie van lewenskwaliteit verhoog.</li> <li>‘n Rekreasie program met ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap sal bydrae tot ‘n omgewing ontvanklik vir sosiale verandering.</li> </ul> Die doelwitte gestel vanuit die hipoteses is as volg: <ul> <li>Om die invloed van rekreasie en vryetyds-besteding geleenthede op die sosiale samehorigheid en handhawing van ‘n positiewe persepsie van lewenskwaliteit in die lae sosio-ekonomies gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort te ondersoek;</li> <li>Om die struikelblokke tot die aanbied van ‘n volhoubare rekreasieprogram in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomies gemeenskap te identifiseer;</li> <li>Om te verstaan hoe die inwoners van die lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe van Danville en Elandspoort rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap sien en ervaar;</li> <li>Om ooreenkomste asook verskille tussen die huidige benadering tot rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap, en ‘n moontlike tweede-orde kubernetiese benadering te identifiseer.</li> </ul> Navorsing in die studie is kwalitatief en navorsingsmetodes sluit in ‘n literatuurstudie, fokus groepe, vignette tegniek, informele onderhoud en observasie. Selektering vir die fokus groepe is gedoen deur gerieflikheids-selektering, met indeling volgens die plek van bywoning: twee sopkombuise in Elandspoort, ‘n sopkombuis in Danville en ‘n ma-en-baba sentrum in Danville. ‘n Totaal van sestig deelnemers is gebruik in die studie, uitgesluit die gemeenskapslede met wie die navorser gepraat het deur die verloop van die studie. ‘n Positiewe verhouding is gevind tussen lae sosio-ekonomies status en swak rekreasie voorsiening. Lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe word uitgesluit deur die bestaan van verskeie struikelblokke tot deelname aan rekreasie, insluitend koste van deelname, registrasiefooie en vervoerprobleme. ‘n Belangrike struikelblok tot deelname aan rekreasie geidentifiseer in die studie is die afwesigheid van rekreasie fasiliteite in die gemeenskap. Inwoners het bevestig dat televisie en verbruik van alkohol die belangrikste vorm van rekreasie in die gemeenskap is. Reaksies van deelnemers aan die fokusgroepe het bevestig dat inwoners uitgesluit voel van die samelewing, en dat die aanname binne die gemeenskap bestaan dat rekreasie en vryetyd-aktiwiteite die voorreg van middel en hoër sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskappe is. In reaksie op inwoners se lewenskwaliteit is daar deur die deelnemers aangedui dat rekreasie aktiwiteite in die gemeenskap sal bydrae tot ‘n positiewe persepsie van lewenskwaliteit. Om die volle potensiaal van rekreasie voorsiening in die gemeenskap van Danville en Elandspoort tot reg te laat kom, word die volgende aanbevelings gemaak ten opsigte van verdere navorsing: <ul> <li>Die potensiaal van rekreasie en vryetydsbestuur in die fasiliteitering van sosiale verandering in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap.</li> <li>Werklike struikelblokke teenoor die ‘persepsie’ van struikelblokke in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskap.</li> <li>Implementering van ‘n tweede-orde kubernetiese rekreasie program in ‘n lae sosio-ekonomiese status gemeenskap.</li> </ul> / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

This study seeks to explore students’ subjective and collective experience of an experiential family therapy module within the Clinical Psychology Masters training programme. It looks at the perceptions of nine trainee therapists who used genograms and family sculpting to present their family of origin. The study takes place after the completion of the practical internship year with the purpose of exploring relevant emotional, cognitive, social and therapeutic effects of this module. A literature survey reveals that the use of genograms and family sculpting during training has received little research interest as most studies have primarily focused on their use during therapy with clients and in supervision. There is a scarcity of literature available that pertains directly to psychologists themselves and their wider social context. An exploratory review has been made to supplement the literature and pertains to experiential programmes in training in general and the psychologist’s self in training. The epistemology that directs this research falls within a postmodern frame. The experience is viewed from within the broad systems perspective. This approach acknowledges the dynamic and recursive interactions which occur between and within systems, and permits a broad perspective to be taken that is inclusive rather than exclusive. A qualitative research design was selected as it lends itself particularly well to the study of the ‘lived realities’ of people within their context and allows the information gained from the study to guide the research process. Semi-structured open-ended in-depth interviews were used as they allow for greater freedom and fewer restrictions regarding direction for the participant. A thematic analysis was carried out in order for the central themes of the experience to emerge. These themes were discussed extensively and integrated with the literature available. The multigenerational family presentation seems to create greater awareness of patterns and roles and these insights have a pervasive impact in many contexts. Understandably, the trainees feel emotionally overwhelmed as they become both observer and observed, viewing their interaction from a third-person perspective. This awareness of process results in a loss of spontaneous response and initial debilitation which is associated with feelings of loss and isolation. The self-exploratory behaviour gives rise to a reflexive reconstruction of self as a result of the access to new meanings regarding the dynamics and relationships within the family system, which enhances understanding of the complex interplay of systems, and ultimately facilitates the processes of integration, repair and resolution. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

The purpose of this study is to describe the subjective psychological experience of relapse in cocaine/crack and heroin users with the aim of identifying the significant cognitive, emotional and social themes involved in relapse. A better understanding of relapse may aid in providing more effective treatment for substance users. Both the intra- and interpsychic factors involved in relapse that emerge from the study are viewed from within a broad systems theory approach. In this study, not only the whole system is of relevance, but also the subsystems. Various sub systems are also identified to allow for the recognition of patterns, functions and recursive feedback loops that maintain substance-using behaviour. Due to the qualitative nature of the study, the context surrounding substance abuse and the substance users assumes vital importance. The interrelationships between the various intrapsychic structures, the family unit, the social contexts, the drugs themselves and the physiological aspects of substance abuse are identified. A qualitative research design was applied. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from the eight participants, who were crack and heroin users who attended the in-patient rehabilitation programme at Phoenix House. Seven of the participants were still in the in-patient rehabilitation programme at the time of the interview, while one participant was in the aftercare programme. All have been through a rehabilitation process before and were at Phoenix House due to a relapse. A thematic analysis was conducted and the process of analysis settled on eight overall themes. Extensive descriptions of these themes are provided. The discussion highlights the role of relapse in the cycle of self-destruction that constitutes substance abuse, in addition to the role relapse plays in the process of recovery. Connection seems to be the key to breaking the cycle of alienation that users experience. Falling into the trap of rejecting users without looking beyond their behaviour allows them to continue functioning in a way that confirms their view of themselves as unlovable, which, in turn, maintains their behaviour. Although systems theory is an independent approach in its own right, the nature of its view allows for the incorporation of other approaches. Where possible and relevant, other theories are incorporated into the discussion of the results, with the aim of gaining an integrated understanding of the findings of the study within the broader field of substance abuse. / Dissertation (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

Whether on paper, on site or mediating between both, means for reading and writing geometry have been central to architecture: the use of compasses and rulers, strings, pins, stakes or plumb-lines enabled the analysis and reproduction of congruent figures on different surfaces since antiquity, and from the renaissance onwards, the consistent planar representation of three-dimensional shapes by means of projective geometry. Tacitly through practice, or explicitly encoded in classical geometry, the operational syntaxes of drawing instruments, real or imaginary, have determined the geometric literacies regulating the production and instruction of architecture. But making marks on the surfaces of paper, stone or the ground has recently given way to the fundamentally different sequential operations of computers as the material basis of architectural inscription. Practices which have dominated architecture since antiquity make little sense in its current reading and writing systems.  This thesis examines technologies of digital inscription in a search for literacies equivalent to those of drawn geometry. It particularly looks at programming as a form of notation in close correspondence with its material basis as a technology, and its effects on architecture. It includes prototypes and experiments, graphics, algorithms and software, together with their descriptions and theoretical analyses. While the artefacts and texts respond to the different forms, styles, interests and objectives specific to the fields and contexts in which they have originated, their fundamental purpose is always to critique and propose ways of writing and reading architecture through programming, the rationale of the research and practice they stem from. / <p>QC 20171129</p>