1. Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Chapter 6

2. Objectives Analyze influences on people’s choices
Explain how choices impact you and others
Demonstrate the decision-making process
Identify the characteristics of practical problems
Apply methods for solving practical problems

3. Key Terms Proactive Ethics Media Decision-making process
Practical problem
Context
Practical reason

4. Decisions and Problems
We make decisions every day.
What to wear
What to eat
Some are easy while others are hard.
You are more likely to make good choices if you are proactive and accept responsibilities.
Proactive – anticipate future decisions or problems and take action.

5. Influences on Choices
Attitude – how do you act when confronted with a decision?
Emotions – have you ever made a decision on impulse?
Values, goals, and priorities – foundation on which wise choices are made.
Ethics – principles and values that guide the way you live.

6. Influences on Choices
Family – guided your development, taught you values, and modeled ways to make decisions and solve problems.
Peers – influence your choices.
Media – channels of mass communication.
Society and culture – family, peers, and media.
Economic factors – financial resources

7. Cultural Influence on Decisions
How do these affect your decision?
Cultural traditions
Religious beliefs
Societal expectations
Current trends

8. Impact of Choices Every choice has a consequence.
What does consequence mean?
Some consequences happen immediately, others take a while.
Consequences can be positive, negative or a combination of both.
It’s easy to overlook consequences on others.
Consider the impact of your decisions on others will help you make better choices.

9. Activity: Predicting Consequences
Kyle puts off getting a haircut until he doesn’t have time to get one before an interview.
Laura saves 50% of her paycheck each week to buy a car.
LaKeysha makes plans for the weekend without telling her family.

10. The Decision-Making Process
Identify the decision to be made
List possible options
Evaluate the pros and cons of each option
Make a choice
Act on your decision
Evaluate your choice
What should a person consider when evaluating possible options?

11. Practical Problems
Practical problem – a complex situation that has many aspects and involves making several interrelated choices.
Require thinking about values and ethics, not just facts.

12. Characteristics of Practical Problems
Practical problems are complex
Practical problems have unique circumstances
Practical problems affect others
Practical problems involve ethical choices
Practical problems require action
Give an example of a practical problem.

13. Ethical Decision Test What would happen if everyone made this choice?
What would happen if I were the person being affected by this choice?
What would happen if my circumstances were slightly different and I made this choice?
Which choice will have the most positive consequences for the most people involved?

14. Examining Practical Problems
Context – refers to all the conditions surrounding the problem or situation
Desired ends – what is the desired outcome
Means – the methods that are used to reach the outcome
Consequences – the action taken that will affect you and others.

15. The REASON Process Recognize the primary problem Evaluate information
Analyze alternatives and consequences
Select the best choice
Outline and take action
Note the results of actions taken

16. Recognize the Primary Problem
A practical problem may involve several issues that are all tangled together.
Identify the main issue or root cause.

17. Evaluate Information
Think about what information you need to solve the problem.

18. Analyze Alternatives and Consequences
What options do I have?
What are the long-term consequences?
What are the short-term consequences?
Consider both positive and negative consequences.

19. Select the Best Choice There may be more than one possible solution.
What is the BEST or WISEST decision?
“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or one.”

20. Outline and Take Action
Once you have chosen an option, create a step-by- step plan to solve the problem.
Identify and gather resources needed to carry out the plan

21. Note the Results of Actions Taken
Look back on the actions taken. Did you get the results you expected?
If not think what you could do differently to achieve a better result