Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system

With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model sta...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fasser, Robyn Lesley
Other Authors: Snyders, Frederik Jacobus Albertus, 1946-
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:Fasser, Robyn Lesley (2014) Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314>
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314
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language en
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sources NDLTD
topic Child custody investigations
Conflicted custody
Constructivist epistemology
Objectivity
Participant observer
Family system
Eco-systemic
Problem-determined system
Expert
Team approach
Expert learner
614.150968
Forensic psychology -- South Africa -- Evaluation
Custody of children -- South Africa -- Psychological aspect
Custody of children -- South Africa
Child psychotherapy -- South Africa
Clinical psychologists -- Rating of -- South Africa
Clinical psychologists -- Training of -- South Africa
spellingShingle Child custody investigations
Conflicted custody
Constructivist epistemology
Objectivity
Participant observer
Family system
Eco-systemic
Problem-determined system
Expert
Team approach
Expert learner
614.150968
Forensic psychology -- South Africa -- Evaluation
Custody of children -- South Africa -- Psychological aspect
Custody of children -- South Africa
Child psychotherapy -- South Africa
Clinical psychologists -- Rating of -- South Africa
Clinical psychologists -- Training of -- South Africa
Fasser, Robyn Lesley
Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
description With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. xviii In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. === Psychology === D. Litt. et Phil. ( Psychology)
author2 Snyders, Frederik Jacobus Albertus, 1946-
author_facet Snyders, Frederik Jacobus Albertus, 1946-
Fasser, Robyn Lesley
author Fasser, Robyn Lesley
author_sort Fasser, Robyn Lesley
title Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
title_short Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
title_full Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
title_fullStr Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
title_full_unstemmed Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
title_sort conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system
publishDate 2014
url Fasser, Robyn Lesley (2014) Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314>
http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314
work_keys_str_mv AT fasserrobynlesley conflictedcustodytheunfoldingofaprofessionalproblemdeterminedsystem
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spelling ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-unisa-oai-uir.unisa.ac.za-10500-143142019-05-15T04:48:51Z Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system Fasser, Robyn Lesley Snyders, Frederik Jacobus Albertus, 1946- Child custody investigations Conflicted custody Constructivist epistemology Objectivity Participant observer Family system Eco-systemic Problem-determined system Expert Team approach Expert learner 614.150968 Forensic psychology -- South Africa -- Evaluation Custody of children -- South Africa -- Psychological aspect Custody of children -- South Africa Child psychotherapy -- South Africa Clinical psychologists -- Rating of -- South Africa Clinical psychologists -- Training of -- South Africa With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural. By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent. A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system. xviii In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation. Psychology D. Litt. et Phil. ( Psychology) 2014-11-04T15:15:38Z 2014-11-04T15:15:38Z 2014-01 Thesis Fasser, Robyn Lesley (2014) Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined system, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314> http://hdl.handle.net/10500/14314 en 1 online resource (xviii, 472 leaves)