PYC1502 2018 Assignments and
Exams 2016-2018
This document is an easy to read compilation of past UNISA Assignment and Exam Questions and Answers
Answers are motivated by a combination of:
• Page references to the prescribed textbook
• Short summaries and/or content regarding the relevant topic(s) in question. (Incorrect options
are also marked where applicable, in order to identify and disregard red-herring alternatives)
Assignments covered are:
• Assignment 01 for Semester 1 2018 • Assignment 02 for Semester 1 2018 •
Assignment 01 for Semester 2 2018
• Assignment 02 for Semester 2 2018
• Assignment 92 (Self-test)
Exams covered are:
• May-June 2016
• October-November 2016
• May-June 2017
• October-November 2017
• May-June 2018
Please note: This document is an additional tool for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user that compiled
and uploaded this document takes no responsibility for incorrect answers. Students must ensure
that they study the prescribed material and understand the content.
,Semester 1: Assignment 01 - 2018 (Unique number: 876895)
Question 1
Stress affects people in different ways and may lead to burnout. Which of the following is associated with
burnout?
1) Burnout may develop when people are subjected to too much stress over a long period of time
2) Burnt-out people tend to feel emotionally drained and alienated from others
3) Feelings of inadequacy and having achieved nothing are common with burnout 4) All of the
above
Answer: The correct answer is 4
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: To answer this question correctly you need to understand the negative effects of
stress. Option 1 is correct because burnout occurs when people are exposed to too
much stress for a long period of time. Another effect of burnout is that people
become emotionally drained, leading to the feelings of alienation from others
(option 2). Moreover, burnt-out people tend to feel inadequate and having
achieved nothing worthwhile in life (option 3). Since all the options are associated
with burnout, option 4 is the correct answer to the question. What other effects do
you think are associated with burnout?
Question 2
There are physiological changes that take place when people experience stress. The . . . increases the
degree of physical tension of the body, whereas the . . . decreases it.
1) sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system
2) primary appraisal; secondary appraisal
3) parasympathetic stimulation; sympathetic stimulation
4) psychosomatic stimulation; psycho-physiological stimulation
Answer: The correct answer is 1
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: This question is based on the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous system. Option 1 provides the correct answer as it explains the functions of
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. In simple terms, the
sympathetic nervous system activates the body for “fight or flight” in response to a
threatening stimulus, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system helps the body
to restore normal functioning. Option 3 is incorrect because it inversely attributes
the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Option 2 is
also incorrect because primary and secondary appraisals are part of the contextual
model of stress, and are not involved in the process of increasing and decreasing
physiological tension. Option 4 is also incorrect because psycho-physiological
stimulation refers to the physical and emotional tension experienced by an
individual. Can you think of other physiological changes that are controlled by the
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
, Question 3
There are different models that explain the process of stress. To what does the General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS) of stress refer?
1) The appraisal of our ability to cope in a stressful situation
, 2) The way the human body reacts to stressful situations
3) The contextualisation of the stress process 4) All of the above
Answer: The correct answer is 2
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: In order to answer this question correctly, you need to understand how the
different models explain the process of stress. Option 1 is incorrect because
appraisals (primary and secondary appraisals) are the two phases in the contextual
model of stress that describe the manner in which people evaluate the stress
experience. Option 3 is also incorrect because the contextual model of stress (not
the GAS) emphasizes that the perception of stress depends on the context in which
it occurs. Option 2 is the correct answer because it refers to the GAS model that
describes the general way in which people react to stressful situations. Since option
2 is the correct answer, this automatically renders option 4 incorrect. Can you name
the three phases of the GAS model of stress?
Question 4
The economic recession has led to many people losing their jobs across the globe and has created
uncertainty around job security. Thami is relocating to a distant branch so that he can keep his job
and he does not want to leave his family behind. What kind of stressor is Thami experiencing?
1) A micro stressor
2) A community stressor
3) A universal stressor 4) A personal stressor
Answer: The correct answer is 4
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: This question requires you to know the different types of stressors. Community
stressor (option 2) is incorrect because it affects certain people who belong to a
particular community. For example, hate crimes perpetuated against a particular
community in a society. Micro stressor (option 1) is incorrect because it affects an
individual almost on a daily basis. For example, being late for work due to traffic
conditions can be stressful for some people. A universal stressor (option 3) is also
incorrect because it affects many people around the world, such as the economic
recession. Option 4 is the correct answer because a personal stressor is specific to a
particular individual. In this case, Thami is stressed by the possibility of having to
move away from his family and work in another area. Can you think of any situation
that you regard as a personal stressor?
Question 5
To what does the Yerkes-Dodson law refer?
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
Answer: The correct answer is 2
Exams 2016-2018
This document is an easy to read compilation of past UNISA Assignment and Exam Questions and Answers
Answers are motivated by a combination of:
• Page references to the prescribed textbook
• Short summaries and/or content regarding the relevant topic(s) in question. (Incorrect options
are also marked where applicable, in order to identify and disregard red-herring alternatives)
Assignments covered are:
• Assignment 01 for Semester 1 2018 • Assignment 02 for Semester 1 2018 •
Assignment 01 for Semester 2 2018
• Assignment 02 for Semester 2 2018
• Assignment 92 (Self-test)
Exams covered are:
• May-June 2016
• October-November 2016
• May-June 2017
• October-November 2017
• May-June 2018
Please note: This document is an additional tool for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user that compiled
and uploaded this document takes no responsibility for incorrect answers. Students must ensure
that they study the prescribed material and understand the content.
,Semester 1: Assignment 01 - 2018 (Unique number: 876895)
Question 1
Stress affects people in different ways and may lead to burnout. Which of the following is associated with
burnout?
1) Burnout may develop when people are subjected to too much stress over a long period of time
2) Burnt-out people tend to feel emotionally drained and alienated from others
3) Feelings of inadequacy and having achieved nothing are common with burnout 4) All of the
above
Answer: The correct answer is 4
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: To answer this question correctly you need to understand the negative effects of
stress. Option 1 is correct because burnout occurs when people are exposed to too
much stress for a long period of time. Another effect of burnout is that people
become emotionally drained, leading to the feelings of alienation from others
(option 2). Moreover, burnt-out people tend to feel inadequate and having
achieved nothing worthwhile in life (option 3). Since all the options are associated
with burnout, option 4 is the correct answer to the question. What other effects do
you think are associated with burnout?
Question 2
There are physiological changes that take place when people experience stress. The . . . increases the
degree of physical tension of the body, whereas the . . . decreases it.
1) sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system
2) primary appraisal; secondary appraisal
3) parasympathetic stimulation; sympathetic stimulation
4) psychosomatic stimulation; psycho-physiological stimulation
Answer: The correct answer is 1
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: This question is based on the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous system. Option 1 provides the correct answer as it explains the functions of
the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. In simple terms, the
sympathetic nervous system activates the body for “fight or flight” in response to a
threatening stimulus, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system helps the body
to restore normal functioning. Option 3 is incorrect because it inversely attributes
the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Option 2 is
also incorrect because primary and secondary appraisals are part of the contextual
model of stress, and are not involved in the process of increasing and decreasing
physiological tension. Option 4 is also incorrect because psycho-physiological
stimulation refers to the physical and emotional tension experienced by an
individual. Can you think of other physiological changes that are controlled by the
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
, Question 3
There are different models that explain the process of stress. To what does the General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS) of stress refer?
1) The appraisal of our ability to cope in a stressful situation
, 2) The way the human body reacts to stressful situations
3) The contextualisation of the stress process 4) All of the above
Answer: The correct answer is 2
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: In order to answer this question correctly, you need to understand how the
different models explain the process of stress. Option 1 is incorrect because
appraisals (primary and secondary appraisals) are the two phases in the contextual
model of stress that describe the manner in which people evaluate the stress
experience. Option 3 is also incorrect because the contextual model of stress (not
the GAS) emphasizes that the perception of stress depends on the context in which
it occurs. Option 2 is the correct answer because it refers to the GAS model that
describes the general way in which people react to stressful situations. Since option
2 is the correct answer, this automatically renders option 4 incorrect. Can you name
the three phases of the GAS model of stress?
Question 4
The economic recession has led to many people losing their jobs across the globe and has created
uncertainty around job security. Thami is relocating to a distant branch so that he can keep his job
and he does not want to leave his family behind. What kind of stressor is Thami experiencing?
1) A micro stressor
2) A community stressor
3) A universal stressor 4) A personal stressor
Answer: The correct answer is 4
Refer: Tutorial Letter 201/1/2018
Reasoning: This question requires you to know the different types of stressors. Community
stressor (option 2) is incorrect because it affects certain people who belong to a
particular community. For example, hate crimes perpetuated against a particular
community in a society. Micro stressor (option 1) is incorrect because it affects an
individual almost on a daily basis. For example, being late for work due to traffic
conditions can be stressful for some people. A universal stressor (option 3) is also
incorrect because it affects many people around the world, such as the economic
recession. Option 4 is the correct answer because a personal stressor is specific to a
particular individual. In this case, Thami is stressed by the possibility of having to
move away from his family and work in another area. Can you think of any situation
that you regard as a personal stressor?
Question 5
To what does the Yerkes-Dodson law refer?
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
Answer: The correct answer is 2
