Sex can wait- Lesson 2 – Understanding values

• Everything we do, every decision we make and every action we take is based on our consciously or unconsciously held beliefs, attitudes and values

What are values?

Is a person born with values?

How and when do values develop?

Who has the greatest influence on your values?

Does this change throughout your life?

At what stage are most teens with regard to forming values?

How do values affect thoughts, feelings and actions

Why is it important that teens be aware of how values influence

them

What can young people do to enhance their values formation

Value

• Defined as a principle, standard or quality considered worthwhile or describable

• Essentially or personal values form a foundation for how we think, feel and act

Value

• Our values help to define who we are as people

• people who have an established set of values upon which to rely can be confident, independent and decisive.

• They know what they believe, and they act on those beliefs.

• Values and decision making go hand in hand

Value formation is not an easy task

The value of values

• Certain criteria must be met before something can be considered a value

• 1. Chosen freely• 2. Chosen from among alternatives• 3. Chosen after due reflection• 4. Prized and cherished• 5. Publicly affirmed• 6. Acted upon• 7. Part of a pattern that is repeated action

The teen years

• Truly a time of values formation

• Friends, family, media

• Some values reflect different perspectives (valuing post-high school education)

• Appreciating and tolerance of others views is important

Parents, teachers, friends and media

• 1. FORMAL STATEMENTS - they believe to be good, bad, right, wrong, important, unimportant

• Example: It is important to save money

• It is good to help others who are less fortunate

• Sex before marriage is wrong

• 2. Informal Comments –

• Example – I wish we could afford a house like that

• If those neighbors don’t keep the rash out of their yard

• That boy is just looking for trouble

• In Behavior – Lifestyle, speaking patterns, treatment of others

• In Rules and expectations they establish – curfews, dating guidelines, classroom rules

Hand out 2.1

I do/ I believe handout 2.2

Overhead What’s worth valuing?Transparency 2B

Standards for Important ValuesTransparency 2C

• You feel it is important to you now and will remain important to you in the future

• You include it in your life even if you have to give up something else for it

• You stick to it even if your friends do not agree with you

• You think the world would be a better place if everyone appreciated this value