Mental Health Activities: Decision Making Peer Pressure Risk Taking

Decision Making: Who to Believe?

Who to believe?? Groups of three. Choose one person to be blindfolded. Other two people will be assigned a role: Correct or Incorrect. Verbal advice and encouragement – no touching! One minute for blindfolded to spell the word. Switch up groups and repeat. One point for: spelling correctly, helping correctly, messin’ up the speller.

Things to Think About What’s your score? Which position did you enjoy the most? Least? Why? What strategies did you use to determine who to listen to? What strategies did you use to get the speller to believe you instead of the other helper?

Who to Believe? Small Group Follow Up ?s 1.How can you compare this activity to making a decision? 2.How do we determine who to turn to, and listen to, for advice? What are some decisions where you might welcome input from others? 3.At this point in your life, who has the most influence on your decisions? Why? 4.Does peer pressure play a role? How and/or how much? What about pressure in other forms/from other people?

Who to Believe? Small Group Follow Up ?s 1.What should you do before taking advice from another? 2.Why is input from others sometimes important or helpful? 3.How can you prevent peer pressure from forcing you into a poor decision?

Things to ponder… On what info do you base your decisions? Where do you get your info from? How do you know it’s credible information? Do the people you take advice from have anything to gain by leading you astray? How do you know who to listen to? Who to trust? Who to ignore? What about pressure from the media; is the “whole truth” always there?

Peer Pressure: Finger Trap

Finger Trap! (round one) 3-4 people in your group. Left palm flat, right index finger in neighbor’s palm (just lightly touching). 1 point for an escape 1 point for a capture -1 point for a false start (cheaters!) -1 point for getting captured Keep track of your point total for round one!

Finger Trap! (round two) Left palm in a U shape, right index finger lowered into neighbor’s “U,” right index finger’s first knuckle lined up with tip of neighbor’s thumb. 1 point for an escape 1 point for a capture -1 point for a false start (cheaters!) -1 point for getting captured Keep track of your point total for both rounds!

Finger Trap! (round three) Left palm in a U shape, right index finger lowered into neighbor’s “U,” right index finger’s second knuckle lined up with tip of neighbor’s thumb. 1 point for an escape 1 point for a capture -1 point for a false start (cheaters!) -1 point for getting captured Figure out your point total for all three rounds!

Finger Trap! (round four) Left palm in a circle (thumb and forefinger touching), right index finger lowered into neighbor’s circle, right index finger’s second knuckle lined up with tip of neighbor’s thumb. 1 point for an escape 1 point for a capture -1 point for a false start (cheaters!) -1 point for getting captured Figure out your point total for all four rounds!

Finger Trap: Things to Think About What was your final score? How hard was it to escape during round one? Round two? Round three? How hard was it to capture your neighbor’s finger in each round? What made the difference in each of the rounds?

Finger Trap: Small Group Questions 1.Define peer pressure. (w/o using “peer” or “pressure” in your definition) 2.Give examples of how peer pressure is applied or experienced. 3.Is it harder to resist peer pressure the longer you are faced with it? Why or why not? 4.Does peer pressure affect your decisions? How? 5.How can you avoid or deal with peer pressure?

Finger Trap: Small Group Questions 1.What should you do when you get into a risky situation? 2.Why would it be easier to make a decision to leave a risky situation as soon as you enter it, instead of after you have been there awhile?

Positive Risk Taking: First Time

Pencil, full sheet of blank paper. Twenty seconds. Legibly write first and last name as many times as possible. Cursive or print. Score? Round 2 – Try to beat score. Round 3 – Try to beat score. Round 4 – Non-dominant hand!

First Time: Things to think about… Score? Did you improve each round, for the first three rounds? How did you do with your non-dom hand? How did you feel in the first three rounds? First reaction when asked to switch hands? How hard did you try in Round 4 compared to first three rounds?

First Time: Small Group Follow up Questions 1.In what situations in life do you think people feel the way you did in Round 4? 2.Why is it difficult to try something for the first time? What about trying new things in front of others? 3.If we want to grow as a person, why do we have to try new things? 4.How can we get better at something? 5.How can we make trying something for the first time easier on ourselves? How can we support others as they try new things?

First Time: Summary Sometimes difficult to try something new. Embarrassed, looking dumb, think less of you, etc. No fun! Think of all the things you weren’t good at the first time you tried them. Can’t grow until you try new things! Find something you’re good at, love.

Decision Making: Add ‘Em Up

Add ‘Em Up Instructions Get a partner and face each other. Put both hands behind your back, and extend any amount of fingers (thumbs included) on either or both hands. On the count of “3” both partners are to bring both of their hands out in front of them, and hold them chest high.

Add ‘Em Up Instructions Your mission is to be the first partner who correctly adds up, and shouts out, the total number of fingers extended on all 4 hands.

Add ‘Em Up Things to Think About What strategy did you use to try to beat your partner? Did it work? Why/Why not? What other strategies did you see being used? What do you think the best strategy was? Why? Did you feel any stress when the hands went up and your partner showed their fingers? Why/Why not? Did others seem stressed? How do you know?

Add ‘Em Up Discussion Questions Answer the following questions on a piece of paper. Make sure all group members’ names are on the paper. 1.How do you think this activity can be useful in contemplating peer pressure? 2.Define “early decision.” 3.Do you think making an early decision would help you resist peer pressure? Why/Why not? 4.How easy is it/will it be to follow through with an “early decision?” Why?

Concept Summary Those who make a decision not to do something (i.e. drug use, alcohol, sex, etc.) before being asked, have a much better chance of resisting than others who wait until confronted to make that decision.

Concept Summary An “early decision” means you have thought through the reasons to do something, the consequences of doing it, & the consequences of not, and are comfortable with your decision. Now all you have to do is be able to avoid or resist the situation, not the decision.

Decision Making: Choices & Consequences Need ¼ sheet of paper.

Directions: REMAIN QUIET!!! NOT A PEEP!!! Write your name on your paper. Count the number of squares you see. Write down your answer on your scratch paper, and bring up to me as quickly as possible. You want to be the first person to bring me the correct number! You can’t change your answer after you hand it in. 

Total Number of Squares…? 30

Squares: Think About How many squares did you see immediately? How many squares did you see after you had studied the diagram for a while? Why did you keep discovering more squares?

Squares: Small Group ?s 1.Describe some situations where you would have to make a decision. 2.Pick one example you listed in number one. List all of the options for this decision, and the consequences for each of these choices. 3.Are consequences always bad? Explain. 4.What happens if you don’t look at all the consequences of a choice?

Squares: Small Group ?s 1.Who can we turn to help us explore our alternatives? 2.How can this activity be applied to drugs and alcohol? 3.Who should have the final decision as to which alternative we choose? Why? 4.Who is responsible for the decisions you make?

use to trace wheel for class project