PYC1502/001/3/2021

Tutorial Letter 001/3/2021

Psychology in Society
PYC1502

Semester 1 and 2

Department of Psychology

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to your group website

BARCODE
 CONTENTS
Page

ASSESSMENT CHANGES for 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR ......................................................................... 3

1.1 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Other assessment ....................................................................................................................... 13
1.4 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 13

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Dear Student

ASSESSMENT CHANGES for 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

Due to the ministerial request to extend the 2021 registration dates, Unisa had to amend both
the semester dates and the assessment arrangements for the 2021 academic year.
During 2021 we will have only one semester and only one tuition and assessment period.
The purpose of this TL001 is to inform you of the new assessment requirements for module
PYC1502 during 2021 for the one semester period.

1.1 Assignment due dates

Here are the due dates for the assignments. Please submit the assignments only for the
semester that you are registered. For example, if you are registered for semester 1, then
submit the assignments for semester 1 ONLY. These assignments have different unique
numbers and are indicated in the table below.

Assignment Unique number Due date

Assignment 01 Semester 1 UN: 691371 17 May 2021

Semester 2 UN: 784279 17 May 2021

Assignment 02 Semester 1 UN: 810626 9 July 2021

Semester 2 UN: 849020 9 July 2021

Assignment 91 Semester 1 UN: 744266 29 July 2021

Semester 2 UN: 703103 29 July 2021

1.2 The assignments

Assignment 01

Semester 1 unique number: 691371

Semester 2 unique number: 784279

Note: This assignment is compulsory. You must submit this assignment to gain
examination admission.

Please choose the correct option in each question.

Question 1
The contextual model of stress assumes that . . .

1. an event does not have universal meaning independent of the perceiver

2. there is a pattern in the way people react to stress regardless of the nature of the stressors
3. the meaning of an event goes through a non-linear process that classifies it as a stressor
4. events are later processed as positive, negative, neutral or ambiguous

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Question 2
What does the Yerkes-Dodson law refer to?

1. Burnout arises from prolonged exposure to stress

2. As arousal increases, so does the performance up to a certain level
3. The amount of time it takes to learn a task increases over time
4. Attention is associated with decreased levels of performance

Question 3
Which one of the following options about burnout is incorrect?

1. Burnout arises from prolonged exposure to stress

2. Feeling of alienation, of being emotionally drained and empty are common
3. The development of burnout is rapid and easy to identify
4. Burnout is associated with decreased level of performance

Question 4
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to live in fear. As a result, many
countries have implemented the lockdown processes in an attempt to prevent the spread of the
corona virus. This is an example of a . . . stressor.

1. personal
2. universal
3. community
4. micro

Question 5
Which term refers to the unique way in which individuals react to stress that adversely affects
their health?

1. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

2. Primary appraisal
3. Response specificity
4. Burnout

Question 6
Motivated behaviour can be defined as . . .

1. a state of tension brought on by biological needs

2. an action that is chosen deliberately and with a clear purpose
3. a specific inborn behavioural pattern
4. making random decisions

Question 7
After travelling in the scorching dessert for a very long time, Paul started to experience fatigue,
and dehydration. According to Maslow’s needs hierarchy, what kind of need is experienced by
Paul in this scenario?

1. Self-esteem need
2. Safety need
3. Love and belonging need
4. Physiological need

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Question 8
When employees fail to develop self-esteem and dignity at work because they are always
reminded that they could lose their jobs anytime, this relates to . . .

1. the need for love and belonging

2. an absence of security
3. the need for power
4. the lack of knowledge

Question 9
Theories that explain motivation as the maintenance of homeostasis are referred to as . . .

1. optimal arousal theories

2. cognitive theories
3. drive-reduction theories
4. instinctive theories

Question 10
Mrs Khumalo works very hard to be able to buy a house for her family. Her behaviour is
motivated by . . .

1. the need for a safe and secure environment

2. a physiological need
3. the need for love and belongingness
4. the need for self-esteem

Question 11
According to Sigmund Freud, instincts have a source, a goal, an object, and an impetus. Which
one of the following statements relates to an impetus of an instinct?

1. The intensity or driving force that determines behaviour

2. The experience of satisfaction that results from the reduction or removal of the biological
stimulation
3. Anything that mediates the reduction of the biological stimulation and offers psychological
gratification
4. The part of the body where biological stimulation occurs

Question 12
You want to start a youth group to fight drug abuse in your community. For the group to be
successful, you believe that the group leader should be honest, self-confident and energetic.
This is an example of . . . leadership style.

1. transformational
2. super
3. charismatic
4. person-trait

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Question 13
The network determines the hierarchy of communication, the frequency of communication, and
the number of people involved in the communication. This statement describes group
communication . . .

1. strategy
2. complexity
3. patterns
4. process

Question 14
Which of the following basic elements of communication will be mostly required in determining
the meaning, relevance and appropriateness of the conveyed message?

1. Content
2. Pattern
3. Level
4. Context

Question 15
Mary and Joseph work in the same department. They regularly visit each other in the office to
talk about work. This is an example of . . . relationship.

1. friendship
2. casual
3. love
4. family

Question 16
Generally, communication is the process of sending a message and receiving the feedback.
Which one of the following statements about communication is incorrect?

1. Communication involves rules that determine how information is encoded and decoded
2. Cultural differences may cause encoding and decoding difficulties
3. Clear communication always occurs between people that come from the same cultural
background
4. Communication requires clear transmission and occurs in particular contexts

Question 17
Which of the following is not a determining factor in interpersonal affiliation?

1. Prosocial behaviour
2. Proximity
3. Similarity and complementarity
4. Communication

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Question 18
John and Sarah are deeply in love. Their friends describe them as being intimate, full of
passion, and committed to each other. According to Sternberg (1986), this is an example of . . .
love.

1. consummate
2. companionate
3. romantic
4. fatuous

Question 19
There a number of ways to foster co-operation among the groups. Which one of the following is
not a practical framework for intergroup co-operation?

1. Maintain social stereotyping

2. Maintain interpersonal contact
3. Maintain co-operative activities
4. Maintain equal status

Question 20
The tutor asks your group to do group assignment in order to get group marks. You noticed that
some of the group members do not put enough effort in group work. This phenomenon is called
...

1. group think
2. social stereotype
3. group conflict
4. social loafing

Question 21
Which one of the following describes the shared expectations about the kind of behaviours that
are required from all group members and the rules that prescribe and forbid certain behaviours?

1. group norms
2. group cohesion
3. socio-metric structure
4. group membership

Question 22
The process of social stereotyping involves . . .

1. a way of thinking that brings similarities and differences between the members of the groups
2. wanting to belong to a particular social group in order to have positive self-esteem
3. the tendency of individuals to put less effort when working in groups and benefit equally as
those that put more effort in a group task
4. thinking in an oversimplified and biased manner about members of the out-group

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Question 23
The way the elements of a group interact and how these interactions evolve over time refers to
group . . .

1. structure
2. process
3. characteristics
4. attributes

Question 24
The strength of the relationships among group members refers to . . .

1. socio-metric structures
2. human membership
3. group norms
4. group cohesion

Question 25
A study indicated that when people find themselves in a group, they are less likely to help
others. This is due to . . .

1. aggressive behaviour
2. identifiability
3. diffusion of responsibility
4. interpersonal attraction

End of assignment 01

Assignment 02

Semester 1 UN: 810626

Semester 2 UN: 849020

Note: You must submit assignment 01 before you can submit this assignment.

Please choose the correct option in each question.

Question 1
A psychological programme can be implementable if . . .

A. the target population needs are comprehensive and relevant

B. the programme objectives meet the needs of the target population
C. the programme is accessible to the target population
D. the required resources are available

The correct answer is . . .

1. A
2. B and D
3. B, C and D
4. A, B, C and D
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Scenario: The executive management of GoldMine company realised that the company was
not doing well. During the board meeting, it was decided that a team of psychologists should
design and implement a training programme to help junior employees to improve their
performance. The implementation of the training programme was a success. However, the trade
union representatives maintained that the training programme was unfair to some of the
employees due to the nature of their jobs and that it compromised some of the labour relations
laws.

Question 2
Based on the scenario, the programme’s target population is the team of psychologists. This
answer is . . .

1. correct
2. incorrect, the target population is the executive management of GoldMine company
3. incorrect, the target population are the junior employees of GoldMine company
4. incorrect, the target population are the trade union representatives

Question 3
The training programme’s objective is to . . .

1. reduce negative feelings towards the training programme

2. provide information about the labour laws
3. encourage the management to monitor the employees’ performance
4. enable employees to improve their performance

Question 4
The programme . . . relates to the knowledge and skills that the participants should gain through
the programme.

1. objective
2. content
3. implementation
4. method

Question 5
Which term refers to the manner in which the programme content is conveyed to the
participants?

1. Programme method
2. Programme resources
3. Programme objective
4. Programme implementation

Questions 6
Which one of the following statements about science is incorrect?

1. Researcher’s interpretations of research findings become factual statements

2. The ideal of science is to minimise subjectivity and maximise objectivity
3. Scientific statements become factual statements if we fail to prove that they are false
4. One of the aims of science is to uncover the objective reality

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Question 7
Which one of the following statements about psychology as a discipline is incorrect?

1. Psychology is a collection of popular beliefs about science

2. Psychology consists of a body of scientific knowledge
3. Psychology is made up of factual statements and theories
4. Psychological statements are based on knowledge that has been carefully researched

Question 8
The scientific thinking that refers to the basic nature of the object of study relates to the . . .
component of scientific thinking.

1. ideological
2. ontological
3. epistemological
4. methodological

Question 9
You want to conduct a study on the effects of drugs in your community. To do this, you need to
explain when, where and how the study will be conducted and who the research participants will
be. This relates to . . .

1. formulating a research problem

2. the collection of research information
3. identifying a research topic
4. planning and designing a research study

Question 10
The self can be conceptualised from different perspectives. The concept of self-regard refers to
...

1. an identification of and with the self

2. how much insight people have about themselves
3. being autonomous and independent from others
4. a general feeling people have about their self-worth

Question 11
Which of the following statements about the self is/are correct?

1. The self is both an object and the subject

2. The self is both the thinker and the actor
3. The self remains constant and yet changes
4. all of the above

Question 12
Which domain describes the self as a product of biological processes?

1. Physical domain
2. Interpersonal domain
3. Reflection domain
4. Intrapersonal domain

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Question 13
During the group discussion on myUnisa, Tom states that “The fact that the self comes about
through introspection means that the self is founded in language.” This statement is . . .

1. correct. Introspection is the process whereby I refer to myself as me, and being able to do
this is a matter of language
2. incorrect. Introspection is the process whereby I explore my inner state of mind, and this is
a matter of consciousness, not language
3. incorrect. Introspection is the process whereby I recognise myself in a mirror, and this is a
matter of biological processes, not language
4. incorrect. The self is produced through a process of reflection, not introspection

Question 14
What do the concepts of privacy, territoriality, and personal space have in common?

1. They indicate a desire to be alone

2. They relate to the environment as a social system
3. They indicate people's desire to make social contact
4. They relate to authority over environmental space

Question 15
Which theoretical approach takes into consideration the effects of violence on individuals,
groups, community, and at the social level?

1. Instinct or socio-biological approach

2. Frustration-aggression approach
3. Ecological approach
4. Behavioural approach

Question 16
In the class, Sheldon has a sitting spot that no one is allowed to sit on. This is an example of . . .

1. discrimination
2. psychological violence
3. territoriality
4. alienation

Question 17
The members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) ask Mr Donald to allow them to meet in
his garage. Mr Donald is not necessarily cooperative about this request as he feels that his area
is invaded. Mr Donald’s behaviour reflects . . .

1. a concern for personal space

2. antisocial behaviour
3. a concern for the environment as physical space
4. group phobia

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Question 18
Which one of the following statements concerning modern racism is incorrect?

1. Some people are seen as inferior to others

2. Unwittingly perpetuating negative stereotypes through highly selective perceptions of
situations
3. Maintaining distance in interpersonal situations
4. Passively resisting support for another person by withholding normal supportive actions

Question 19
The lack of service delivery experienced by the poor communities in a society is an example of .
. . violence

1. psychological
2. structural
3. interpersonal
4. domestic

Question 20
Which one of the following statements about communities is incorrect?

1. A community is more than a physical or geographical entity

2. Community members always co-operate when it comes to issues concerning the
community at large
3. There is a transactional relationship between a community and its members
4. The identity of the community is determined by its members

Question 21
The idea that human systems function like living organisms that change and evolve dynamically
led to the development of the . . .

1. protestant work ethic

2. ethics of self-development
3. mechanistic ethic
4. post-industrial ethic

Question 22
Which one of the following statements about the Protestant work ethic is incorrect?

1. People should use their available time to work because work is inherently good
2. People should constantly improve their skills in order to work better
3. People should measure their worth in terms of personal achievements and wealth
4. People should not consume more than what they need to satisfy their basic needs

Question 23
The idea that an organisation is a system within a larger system and that the people in it are
dynamic systems that constitute the larger system relates to the . . .

1. naturalistic worldview
2. mechanistic work ethic
3. organismic worldview
4. industrial work ethic

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Question 24
The … theories postulate that people are motivated by their personalities, dispositions and
values to work

1. cognitive-choice
2. self-regulation
3. optimal-arousal
4. need-fulfilment

Question 25
In her assignment, Sarah writes that “In the evolution of work, concepts such as qualifications,
job-description, selection, training and management characterise the industrial phase.” This
answer is . . .

1. correct
2. incorrect. The concepts listed characterise the information phase
3. incorrect. The industrial phase is characterised by concepts such as the flat hierarchical
structure
4. incorrect. These concepts are part of the agricultural phase of work

End of assignment 02

1.3 Other assessment

In addition to the two assignments, please note that you have to submit assignment 91 as well.
This is course evaluation assignment found in your tutorial letter 101. The self-test assignment
is also in tutorial letter 101. Please do NOT submit the self-test assignment.

1.4 The examination

Please note that the exam for this module is fully online. The following guidelines will help you
avoid the most common technical difficulties while taking online exams on myExams platform
and safeguard that your work is submitted successfully.

1.4.1 Use a supported browser and close unneeded applications - Use Google Chrome for
best experience. Other mainstream browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari or
Internet Explorer on laptop or desktop computers are the ONLY supported browsers for
myExams. Browsers on mobile devices (phones and tablets) are NOT supported. Close
unneeded applications and processes running on your computer to reduce network
interference.

1.4.2 Disable ad blockers and browser extensions - Temporarily disable browser add-ons,
extensions, and plugins, especially ad blockers, before beginning an online exam/assessment.
Instructions on how to disable browser extensions are found in myExams User Guide

1.4.3 Make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled in your browser - JavaScript is required for
online assessment to function correctly. If JavaScript is disabled in your browser, you are likely
to encounter multiple issues with taking and submitting an exam/assessment.

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1.4.4 Verify your internet connectivity - Use the most reliable Internet connection available when
you are taking an online exam/assessment

1.4.5 Avoid using mobile devices - Use a laptop or desktop computer instead of a mobile device
(phone or tablet) to take online assessment

1.4.6 Don't open multiple browser windows or tabs - Accessing the online assessment tool in
multiple browsers or being logged into myExams on more than one device at once, can result in
completely losing your exam/assessment submission answers.

1.4.7 Use the built-in navigation - Use the built-in navigation in online assessment to move
between screens.

1.4.8 Save your work - Save your work more often to avoid losing your work due to Internet
interruptions or other technical issues.

1.4.9 Verify your submission confirmation screen - Upon submitting your answers, wait for the
submission confirmation screen to appear to ensure that your submission was successful. DO
NOT navigate away from online assessment or close your browser before the confirmation
screen appears.

1.4.10 Encountering problems during online assessment - If you encounter any problem, try the
following:

1. Log out of myExams.

2. Close your internet browser completely (if using a Mac, you'll need to select the name of the
browser menu, then Quit, e.g., select Safari, then Quit Safari).
3. Open just one browser window and log back into myExams.
4. Return to your exam/assessment as quickly as possible.

For all other information regarding module PYC1502, please refer to Tutorial letter 101.

The Teaching Team

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