As part of the Grade 11 Life Orientation Term 1 curriculum, the module “Development of the Self in Society” requires learners to understand the social structures around them. This page provides comprehensive notes on the different types of human connections and how these dynamics evolve as you transition from adolescence to adulthood.
These notes are aligned with the CAPS requirements for Life Orientation Grade 11 Term 1, focusing on how these interactions directly impact your personal well-being and your ability to reach your prioritised life goals.
1. Understanding Relationship Types
In Grade 11 Term 1, we define a relationship as the way people feel about and behave toward one another. During your school years, you will navigate five primary types of relationships:
Family Relationships
These include people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
- Nature: They are usually your primary source of love and support.
- Context: In Grade 11, family dynamics often change as you seek more independence while still needing their guidance for your career choices.
Casual Relationships (Acquaintances)
These are informal connections with people you see often but are not close to, such as shopkeepers, bus drivers, or learners in other classes.
Friendships
A friend is someone you know well, trust, and respect.
- Positive Impact: Good friends improve your self-esteem and help you cope with stress.
- Risks: Relationships that lack respect can lead to harmful peer pressure, which is a major focus of LO Term 1.
Formal Relationships
These are connections with people in senior positions, such as your teachers, principal, or elders. These are built on a foundation of professional respect and Constitutional values.
Romantic Relationships
A close relationship based on love, honesty, and mutual acceptance. In a healthy romantic relationship, neither person tries to control or change the other.
2. The Changing Nature of Relationships
A key learning objective in Grade 11 LO is acknowledging that relationships are not static. They change as you grow older and your life stages shift.
- Professional Shifts: A teacher you have a formal relationship with now could become a colleague in the future.
- Family Shifts: As you reach adulthood, you may transition from being cared for by your parents to becoming their caretaker.
- Emotional Shifts: Love and friendship can change; a best friend from childhood may become a stranger, or a partner may become a distant acquaintance after a breakup.
3. Discussion & Analysis for Exam Preparation
Analyze two types of relationships and their changing nature.
To answer this in an exam, you must show the cause of the change.
- Example: “Formal relationships with teachers change into professional relationships as a learner moves from school to the workplace. This change is caused by a shift in power dynamics and shared professional goals.”
Discuss how relationships contribute to well-being.
Healthy relationships provide emotional safety, which allows you to focus on your goal-setting. Conversely, detrimental relationships can drain your energy and lower your self-esteem.
Activity 11: Identify Changing Relationships
This activity helps you apply the Term 1 theory to your own life.
- Table 2: Tracking My FriendshipsList your best friend at ages 4, 7, 13, and now. Explain why the relationship stayed the same or why it changed.
- Writing Task: Write a paragraph explaining the term “changing relationships” using an example of a formal relationship that might become informal in the future.
Next Lesson: Learn to identify connections that hurt your progress in Relationships Detrimental to Well-being.
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