Evaluate the impact of social relationships on the ability of Grade 12 learners to succeed in their schoolwork

On this page, we help students to answer the following question: “Evaluate the impact of social relationships on the ability of Grade 12 learners to succeed in their schoolwork.” This evaluation is a key part of the Life Orientation Grade 12 curriculum, as it explores how the people around you influence your academic results.

---

Quick Answer

Impact of Social Relationships:

• Supportive Relationships: Act as a “buffer” againstdistress, providing emotional stability and motivation foracademic priorities.
• Detrimental Relationships: Increasesocial stressors, leading to poor concentration and a decline in schoolwork.
• Peer Influence: Can either encourageeffective study methodsor lead to distractions and risky behaviour.

---

How Social Connections Shape Academic Success

In South African Life Orientation textbooks, social relationships include your interactions with parents, teachers, and peers. These connections can either facilitate success or become a major barrier to meeting university admission requirements.

1. Positive Impact: Emotional Support and Motivation

Healthy social relationships provide the emotional security needed to handle the pressure of the matric year.

• The Evaluation: When a learner has a supportive family or a positive peer group, they experience lower levels of anxiety. This emotional stability allows the brain to stay in the manageable eustress zone.
• The Benefit: Learners are more likely to monitor their progress and stay committed to their goal setting when they feel encouraged by those around them.

2. Negative Impact: Distraction and Peer Pressure

Not all social relationships are beneficial. Some can lead to a significant drop in academic performance.

• The Evaluation: Detrimental relationships or toxic friendships often involve peer pressure to prioritise social events over study time.
• The Benefit: If a learner spends too much time managing unsettled conflicts, they enter the Exhaustion Stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which impairs memory and focus.

3. Collaborative Learning vs. Competition

Relationships with classmates can directly affect how a learner engages with the CAPS curriculum.

• The Evaluation: Positive relationships allow for study groups where learners use effective communication to explain difficult concepts to each other.
• The Benefit: This collaborative environment promotes personal growth and development. However, if the relationship is based on unhealthy competition, it creates intrapersonal conflict and increases the fear of failure.

4. Impact on Future Planning

Social relationships influence how learners view their options after school.

• The Evaluation: Conversations with teachers or mentors can help a learner in researching funding options or accommodation.
• The Benefit: Access to a strong social network (networking) provides information that a learner might not find on their own, reducing the stress and uncertainty of the transition to university.

---

Summary Table: The Two Sides of Social Impact

Relationship Type	Impact on Schoolwork	Outcome
Supportive (Family/Mentors)	Provides resources and encouragement.	Higher academic performance.
Toxic/Detrimental	Causes social stressors and anxiety.	Increased risk of failure and burnout.
Positive Peers	Encourages healthy study methods.	Improved understanding of subjects.
Negative Peers	Leads to overwhelming social lives.	Neglect of academic priorities.

Reference for Students:

• Subject: Life Orientation Grade 12
• Source: My Courses Social Relationships Guide
• Topic: Development of the self in society – Relationships and academic success.