Decision Making and Refusal Skills

Learning Log  Think of a time that you had trouble making a decision.  What made it hard to make that decision?  Think of a time when the decision was easy to make.  What made it easy?

DECIDE  D-define the problem  E-explore the alternatives  C-consider the consequences  I-identify your values  D-decide and act  E-evaluate the results  You found the perfect after school job. It is near home, and will allow you to pay for the things you really want to get. That same day you found out that you made the basketball team. Practice is during the hours that you would need to work. What do you do?

Define the Problem  State problem clearly  Write it down if necessary  Do I even need to use DECIDE?  You found the perfect after school job. It is near home, and will allow you to pay for the things you really want to get. That same day you found out that you made the basketball team. Practice is during the hours that you would need to work. What do you do?

Explore the Alternatives  Make a list  If more info is needed do research  If alternatives are unrealistic remove them

Consider the Consequences  Look at each alternative and write  Possible positive and negative consequences  Consider what would happen, not what you hope would happen  Ask yourself  How risky is each alternative?  How would it affect my future?  How will my decision effect other people?

Identify Your Values  Overlook because you want something  Usually uncomfortable with decision later  Consider  Goals  Family/culture  Health of you and others  Choice that matches values

Decide and Act  Use knowledge to choose what is right for you  Sometimes more than one right answer  Make a plan  Break into smaller steps  Follow through with plan

Evaluate Consequences  How did it work out?  How has it affected your life?  How has it affected others?  If you could do it over, what would you change?  Do it if possible  You found the perfect after school job. It is near home, and will allow you to pay for the things you really want to get. That same day you found out that you made the basketball team. Practice is during the hours that you would need to work. What do you do?

Learning Log  Use DECIDE to figure out what you should eat for lunch.

Decision Making Skills  15 Item game  Get correct information  Know how to use this information  Square Activity  Choice may look obvious at first  There may be more options than we see  Gut Check  Does your decision feel right?

Forgotten Aspects  Values  Emotions  Other’s feelings  Habits  Pressure  Risks

Learning Log  Advice  I was at a friend’s house and we were just hanging out. We were getting bored and one of the people pulled out a bottle of liquor. They asked if I wanted any, and I said, “No I have a game tonight.” The real reason was that I have decided not to drink. Was it wrong to give an excuse? What happens if they ask me again when I don’t have a game?  Offer a response to this person and give them advice on how to handle future situations

Developing Refusal Skills To refuse an offer convincingly, you may need to do more than say no. These guidelines can help you learn to say no in a way that tells others you mean it.

Refusal Skills  NICE principle  N-say No firmly  I-use I statements  I’m not old enough to…  No thank you, I don’t…  I want to stay in control of myself  C-change the subject, change who you are talking to, change rooms  E-exit the situation

Do’s and Don’ts of NICE  Do  Make eye contact  Stand tall  Use a firm voice  Don’t  Look at the ground  Show you are nervous  Speak softly  Say ”I guess not” or “Maybe”