It’s Your Decision

Unit 2: Decision MakingChapter 5 (CL)

Interpersonal Studies

Unit ObjectivesSummarize the decision-making

processDiscuss the consequences and

responsibilities of decisionsEvaluate the affect of decisions

on health, well-being, family, interpersonal relationships, employment, and society as a whole

Your Personal Priorities To make the best decisions, you

need to know yourself – especially your personal priorities.

Your personal priorities will influence the decisions you make.

They will also influence the goals and standards you set for your life.

What Are Personal Priorities?Personal priorities – are the

principles, concepts (ideas), and beliefs that are most important to you. Love Knowledge Friendship Honesty Religion Health

You may feel strongly about some vs. others

Become a part of your personality

They affect your behavior

How Are Personal Priorities Formed?

How Personal Priorities Influence Decisions

Knowing your personal priorities can help you avoid potentially dangerous situations.

Your priorities will help you weigh the options you have in many areas involving behavior.

You will find it easier to say no when you sense your priorities are being compromised.

Personal Priorities Change in ImportanceSome personal priorities, such as

honesty, integrity, and compassion, may always be a factor no matter the age.

Your personal priorities will vary in importance at different stages of your life.

Setting Your GoalsShort-term

goals – reachable in the near future (the next hour, day, or week)

Long-term goals – goals you hope to achieve next year or several years from now

Five Steps to a Goal

1. Identify the goal.2. Assess whether the goal is

something you really want.3. Make a plan for achieving the goal.4. Write down your action plan for

achieving the goal.5. Every once in a while, reevaluate

your goals.

Short Film “Prodigy”http://www.responsibilityproject.c

om/films/prodigy#fbid=HhrZ4o-ymHE

Predict what you think will happen.

Making Decisions

Your decisions… should reflect your personal

priorities.should also be based on your

goals.will be influenced by your

standards.

Making DecisionsYou must first have a positive

self-concept.You must have confidence in

your ability to make responsible decisions.

Develop critical-thinking skillsBecoming an adult means

accepting the responsibility for making decisions that will benefit you, your family, and society.

Making Decisions

Decision the act or process of

deciding choosing between

alternativessomething that is decided

Types of DecisionsMinor Decisions

Made on a regular basis Do not require much thought Important at the time but will

probably not have much impact on the future

– Example: whether to have cereal or toast for breakfast

Types of DecisionsMajor Decisions

Require much thought and time May be difficult to make May have long-term effects

– Example: whether to go to college or join a branch of the military

Major or Minor• What clothes to wear to school• Whether to skip class with friends• To do or not do homework• To go out drinking with friends• What to eat for lunch• When to go to bed• What courses to take next semester

Class ActivityHow many decisions do you

make in an average day? Write down everything you have done

today or the yesterday (i.e. get out of bed, brush teeth, ride the bus).

Who/what influenced your decisions? Where you surprised at the amount of

decisions that were made? Where the decisions you made

minor/major?

Ways to Make Decisions Some decisions are simply habits. Some people depend on their common

sense to make decisions. they consider the consequences for each option they choose the solution they think will have the best

results with the fewest complications Some people use intuition to solve

problems. They follow their instincts/feelings

Others base their decisions on past experiences

Some decisions may be made by applying lessons learned as result of parental guidance

The Decision-Making ProcessDecision-Making Process – method of making decisions and solving problems in a step-by-step process

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

1. Identify the decision to be made or the problem to be solved.

2. List all possible alternatives.

3. Choose the best alternative.

4. Act on the decision.

5. Evaluate the decision.

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

1. Identify the decision to be made or the problem to be solved.

Be specific.

Don’t get bogged down making an irrelevant decision.

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

2. List all positive alternatives.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?

What are the consequences of each alternative?

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

3. Choose the best alternative.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative?

What are the consequences of each alternative?

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

4. Act on the decision.

Put it into action.

Give full commitment and time to the decision.

Steps in the Decision-Making Process

5. Evaluate the decision.

Ask yourself:Am I comfortable with the decision?Was the right decision made?Could the situation be improved in any

way?Are there additional alternatives that need

to be considered?

Group Discussion/Activity How do people make

decisions?

Would these methods be used to make major or minor decisions?

Flipping a coin

Rock, paper, scissors

Drawing straws

Decision-Making Strategies

On Impulse Choose the first alternative with little

thought or examination

It’s in the Stars Let the environment decide for you; it is up to fate

Decision-Making Strategies

Decision by Default Someone else decides for you; you

only carry out or accept the decision

• On Hold– Postpone making a decision by

refusing to think about it or by not acting; you make a decision by not deciding

Decision-Making Strategies

Planned A logical method is used; all available

information is collected, and the facts are weighed

• Overwhelmed– You are unable to make an

effective decision; you are too confused to make a deliberate decision

Decision-Making StrategiesIf It Feels Good

You “feel” that an option is the best one without studying it; the decision is based on a hunch

Least Resistance You choose the option which will result

in the least conflict; the easy way out