Making Decisions About Your Health Mr. Royer

Definitions Risk Behavior – Possibility that an action may cause injury or harm to you or others. Decision – Is a choice you make and act upon. Decision Making – The process of making a choice or finding a solution. Good Decision – Is a decision in which you have carefully considered the outcome of each choice. Personal Responsibility – To take personal responsibility for your decision is to accept how your decision will affect yourself and other people.

Definitions Values – Are beliefs that you consider to be of great importance. Character – Is the way that people think, feel, and act. Influence – Is a force that affects your choices when you have a decision to make. Peer Pressure – Is the pressure that you feel to do something because your friends want you to do it. Consequences – Is a result of an action that you take. Precaution – A planned action taken before an event to increase the chance of safe outcomes and avoid negative consequences.

Being In Control A great deal of people tell you what to do. –Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Friends. However, there are many thing you have control over, such as making decisions. You make decisions daily. A decision is a choice you make and act upon. Making good decisions take careful consideration of all outcomes. Along with making decisions comes personal responsibility. Therefore, a good decision = a responsible decision.

Values and Decision Making Your decisions are based on your values. Values = beliefs of great importance to you. Many of your values come from the things your parents/guardians have taught you. Other values develop over time and are based on personal experiences. Not everyone has the same values as you. Good values include… –Respect for yourself and other. –Responsibility. –Honesty. –Self-Control. –Trustworthiness.

Character and Decision Making Having good values will help you live responsibly and develop good character. Character is the way people think, feel, and act. When your character is based on positive values, you will develop attitudes and habits that make it easier to make good decisions. Every good decision made is practice for making other good decisions. To make a good decision you must be able to figure out what exactly is the problem. Incorrectly identifying the problem will lead to a wrong decision.

The Decision Making Process 1.State the situation or identify the problem. 2.Consider your values, beliefs, and ideas that are important to you and your family. 3.List the options – Ways to deal with the situation. 4.Weigh the possible outcomes, results, or consequences. 5.Make a decision and act. 6.Evaluate the decision. Was it a good choice?

The Decision Making Process The decision making process is the same 6 steps for every situation or problem. By following the six steps, you have a better chance of making a good decision. Sometimes you may run through the 6 steps quickly, other time the 6 step process will take days or weeks to run through. Remember to carefully work through the problem, your values, your options, and the consequences. Learn from your mistakes so that you can do even better the next time!

Influences on Your Decisions - Family The members of your family most likely had the greatest influence on you so far. The members of your family set standards and have expectations that are based on their values and cultural traditions. You learn these standards, expectations, and values as you grow up. They in turn affect everything that you think and do. What are decisions that are influenced by your family? Why certain people are your friends, what you do for fun, how you celebrate holidays.

Influences on Your Decisions - Peers Your peers are vary major influences, especially when you are a teenager. Peers influence what you think or how you act through peer pressure. Peer pressure can be positive or negative. Positive Peer Pressure – Influences you to do something that benefits you. What are some examples of positive peer pressure? Studying with a group of people who want to do well on a test, may make you study harder. Negative Peer Pressure – Influences you to do something that could harm you or others. What are some examples of negative peer pressure? Being mean to someone only when you are around certain people.

Influences on Your Decisions - Peers Peer pressure affects your decisions more than you may think… How many activities do you do without your friends? Who helps you choose the music you listen to or the clothes you wear? Peer pressure can affect your health if you let it convince you to take risks with your body. What are examples of risk that may affect your health? Taking drugs, Drinking alcohol, Riding with dangerous or underage drivers. There is strong feelings for the need to fit in, but do NOT let these feelings influence you to do harmful things.

Influences on Your Decisions - Media You hear media messages daily, they tell you what to buy and why to buy it. How much of what they say is just to influence you to buy their product? Products can not always do everything that the advertisers claim. Commercials are designed to make money for a particular company that sells that product in the advertisement. The claims are usually exaggerated.

Influences on Your Decisions - Media However, the media often reports information that makes a difference. New discoveries or inventions can change what people do. Media can have a positive effect on your life, you just need to learn to recognize what messages are true.

Evaluating Your Influences When Making a Decision How do you know who to listen to? A good rule is to trust the people who know and care about you. Family members and good friends can usually be trusted because they want what is best for you. A trusted teacher or school counselor can also give you advice about good vs. bad influences.

Examining Your Decision – Weighing The Consequences Whenever you act on a decision, there is a consequence. Consequences can be positive or negative. Examine the consequences and take the necessary precautions. Ask yourself would my decision… –Uphold my values? –Set a good or poor example for others? –Cause emotional pain to me or others? –Help me reach my goals? Or keep me from my goals? –Harm me or someone else physically? –Help others? –Strengthen or weaken relationships with my friends?

Examining Your Decision – Practice Makes Perfect The more you practice the decision making process, the easier it will be to use. You can rehearse making decision by mentally thinking through the 6 step decision making process in advance. When you face a problem that you do NOT know how to solve be sure to ask a trusted adult, parent, teacher, or friend for advice.