1
LIFE ORIENTATION
GRADE 12
TERM 1_2025
The following previous papers
have been used in these notes:
@IMPAQ 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,
2022 & DBE 2022 as well as the
DBE/WCED LO Revision Booklet 2023 & 2024.
Good luck. Juffrou Ansie
Topics:
1. DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IN SOCIETY p. 2
2. CONFLICT p. 6
3. MEDIA p. 9
4. RELATIONSHIPS p. 13
5. GROWTH AND CHANGE p. 18
6. STUDY SKILLS p. 22
7. CAREERS AND CAREER CHOICES p. 26
8. UMEMPLOYMENT p. 33
5. ENTREPRENEURSHIP p. 35 - 40
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
1. DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IN SOCIETY
STRESS
Case study @IMPAQ JUN 2018
A quick fix for stress is to smile. It may not make the tension go away, but you will
feel better immediately. A smile is also contagious. The reason for this is that
part of the brain that controls facial expression is an unconscious automatic
response area. Look at someone smiling and you won't be able to help but smile
too. This involuntary response area especially mimics happy facial expressions.
In a Swiss study, participants were shown different pictures depicting emotions
such as joy, anxiety, anger and surprise. They were told to frown if the picture
depicted a happy, smiling person. Instead of obeying the researcher's
instructions, everyone smiled too. (Adapted and translated: goo.gl/eQvtPJ)
The life skill recommended in the text: Learn to smile often, because smiling is a
contagious emotion.
FOUR MAIN GROUPS OF STRESSORS
1. Physical stressor
2. Emotional stressor
3. Environmental stressor
4. Social stressor
Physical - stressors caused by health issues,
trauma to the body, self-harm, lifestyle choices
and abuse.
• Health issue
• Trauma
• Self-harm
• Lifestyle choices
• Acute and chronic illness
• Pregnancy
• Menstruation
• Experience violent attacks
• Being a crime victim
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Cutting one-self
• Lack of sleep
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Too much drinking and smoking
Environmental - stressors that are found in our surroundings that cause irritations. Some
examples of common environmental stressors include:
• Poverty
• Noise
• Over crowding
• Pollution
• Natural disasters
• Poor ventilation
• Abuse
• Vocation
• Social pressure
Social – stressors caused by the people around you that stems from one’s relationships
with others and from the social environment in general. Some examples of common
environmental stressors include:
• Poor communication
• Conflict
• Bullying
• Negative peer pressure
• Changes in family structure e.g. divorce, new siblings
Emotional – stress brought by people’s reactions to difficult situations, causing negative
emotions. Some examples of common environmental stressors include:
• Death
• Moving house
• Not coping well with and uncertainty about life post-matric
• Negative thoughts about life
• Unrealistic expectations
• Frustration, anger, conflict and anxiety
Symptoms of stress
Physical Examples: Grinding of teeth, clenching of jaws, muscle tension,
symptoms headaches, shortness of breath, stomach pain, fatigue,
increased blood pressure, chest pains, nausea, light-headedness,
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
excessive sweating, fainting, dry mouth, diarrhoea, constipation
and muscle spasm.
Behavioural Examples: Sleeping too much or too little, eating more or less
symptoms than usual, weight loss, drug abuse, antisocial behaviour, decline
in personal hygiene and nervous habits such as nail biting,
pacing.
Emotional Examples: Mood swings, depression, anxiety, guilt, self-blame,
symptoms denial, numbness, irritability, helplessness, mistrust, short temper,
feelings of loneliness and isolation, and tearfulness.
Cognitive Inability to concentrate, attention deficit, memory problems,
symptoms poor problem solving, poor judgement, disbelief, disturbed
thinking, confusion, flashbacks or suicidal thoughts.
The fight-or-flight response of stress with specific reference to the cartoon. @IMPAQ JUN 2020
It is the response of the body's
sympathetic nervous system to a stressful
situation.
In the cartoon, the person feels
threatened by the bear, so it is a stressful
situation.
The body's defence response goes into a
rapid automatic process known as the
fight-or-flight response.
In the cartoon, the person chooses to flee
rather than fight
An explanation of FOUR physical reactions when a stressful situation arises
unexpectedly @IMPAQ JUN 2020
The body secretes the chemicals cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.
This secretion helps the body to be ready for either fight or flight by speeding up
the heart rate and breathing, and increasing alertness and muscle readiness.
The body begins to sweat.
The digestion and immune systems are slowed down.
The following as tools to manage stress @IMPAQ JUN 2020
@Juffrou_Ansie
LIFE ORIENTATION
GRADE 12
TERM 1_2025
The following previous papers
have been used in these notes:
@IMPAQ 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,
2022 & DBE 2022 as well as the
DBE/WCED LO Revision Booklet 2023 & 2024.
Good luck. Juffrou Ansie
Topics:
1. DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IN SOCIETY p. 2
2. CONFLICT p. 6
3. MEDIA p. 9
4. RELATIONSHIPS p. 13
5. GROWTH AND CHANGE p. 18
6. STUDY SKILLS p. 22
7. CAREERS AND CAREER CHOICES p. 26
8. UMEMPLOYMENT p. 33
5. ENTREPRENEURSHIP p. 35 - 40
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
1. DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IN SOCIETY
STRESS
Case study @IMPAQ JUN 2018
A quick fix for stress is to smile. It may not make the tension go away, but you will
feel better immediately. A smile is also contagious. The reason for this is that
part of the brain that controls facial expression is an unconscious automatic
response area. Look at someone smiling and you won't be able to help but smile
too. This involuntary response area especially mimics happy facial expressions.
In a Swiss study, participants were shown different pictures depicting emotions
such as joy, anxiety, anger and surprise. They were told to frown if the picture
depicted a happy, smiling person. Instead of obeying the researcher's
instructions, everyone smiled too. (Adapted and translated: goo.gl/eQvtPJ)
The life skill recommended in the text: Learn to smile often, because smiling is a
contagious emotion.
FOUR MAIN GROUPS OF STRESSORS
1. Physical stressor
2. Emotional stressor
3. Environmental stressor
4. Social stressor
Physical - stressors caused by health issues,
trauma to the body, self-harm, lifestyle choices
and abuse.
• Health issue
• Trauma
• Self-harm
• Lifestyle choices
• Acute and chronic illness
• Pregnancy
• Menstruation
• Experience violent attacks
• Being a crime victim
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Cutting one-self
• Lack of sleep
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
• Poor diet
• Lack of exercise
• Too much drinking and smoking
Environmental - stressors that are found in our surroundings that cause irritations. Some
examples of common environmental stressors include:
• Poverty
• Noise
• Over crowding
• Pollution
• Natural disasters
• Poor ventilation
• Abuse
• Vocation
• Social pressure
Social – stressors caused by the people around you that stems from one’s relationships
with others and from the social environment in general. Some examples of common
environmental stressors include:
• Poor communication
• Conflict
• Bullying
• Negative peer pressure
• Changes in family structure e.g. divorce, new siblings
Emotional – stress brought by people’s reactions to difficult situations, causing negative
emotions. Some examples of common environmental stressors include:
• Death
• Moving house
• Not coping well with and uncertainty about life post-matric
• Negative thoughts about life
• Unrealistic expectations
• Frustration, anger, conflict and anxiety
Symptoms of stress
Physical Examples: Grinding of teeth, clenching of jaws, muscle tension,
symptoms headaches, shortness of breath, stomach pain, fatigue,
increased blood pressure, chest pains, nausea, light-headedness,
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
excessive sweating, fainting, dry mouth, diarrhoea, constipation
and muscle spasm.
Behavioural Examples: Sleeping too much or too little, eating more or less
symptoms than usual, weight loss, drug abuse, antisocial behaviour, decline
in personal hygiene and nervous habits such as nail biting,
pacing.
Emotional Examples: Mood swings, depression, anxiety, guilt, self-blame,
symptoms denial, numbness, irritability, helplessness, mistrust, short temper,
feelings of loneliness and isolation, and tearfulness.
Cognitive Inability to concentrate, attention deficit, memory problems,
symptoms poor problem solving, poor judgement, disbelief, disturbed
thinking, confusion, flashbacks or suicidal thoughts.
The fight-or-flight response of stress with specific reference to the cartoon. @IMPAQ JUN 2020
It is the response of the body's
sympathetic nervous system to a stressful
situation.
In the cartoon, the person feels
threatened by the bear, so it is a stressful
situation.
The body's defence response goes into a
rapid automatic process known as the
fight-or-flight response.
In the cartoon, the person chooses to flee
rather than fight
An explanation of FOUR physical reactions when a stressful situation arises
unexpectedly @IMPAQ JUN 2020
The body secretes the chemicals cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.
This secretion helps the body to be ready for either fight or flight by speeding up
the heart rate and breathing, and increasing alertness and muscle readiness.
The body begins to sweat.
The digestion and immune systems are slowed down.
The following as tools to manage stress @IMPAQ JUN 2020
@Juffrou_Ansie
