While we start to learn how and practice decision-making

skills as a child, the process of good decision-making be-

comes more important during adolescence and young
adulthood. The decisions made as individuals get older may
impact the rest of their lifetime. The consequences of bad
decisions can adversely change the course of their life, or of
their family’s lives.
 Determine the impor- Breakfast menu
tance of a decision by decisions have
the term of the conse- short-term
quences. consequences.

If the conse-
quences of your deci-
sion are long-term,
The decisions
then spend more time regarding a teen
on the process and fol- pregnancy may
low each step of deci- have life-long
sion-making carefully. consequences.
Psychologist Jean Piaget, 1896-1980, di-
vided cognitive thinking skills that include
decision-making and problem-
solving into 4 stages:
1.Sensorimotor – In this stage, infants and
toddlers make decisions based on past ex-
perience and their senses (How does it
taste, feel, look, sound, and smell? Did it
work the last time work, or not?)
2.Preoperational – In this stage, preschool-
ers make decisions based on how it will af-
fect them. They cannot imagine things they
have not experienced. They cannot see an-
other person’s point of view.
3. Concrete Operational – The
school-age child is now capable of
logic. They are capable of thinking
from different perspectives, but are
limited by a lack of experience. De-
cisions are still based on what they
have previously observed and expe-
rienced.

4. Formal Operational – The middle

and high school child moves to-
ward a more abstract type of think-
ing. This person does not have to
experience something in order to
understand it… they can imagine it.
This type of thinking continues to
develop into adulthood.
Many psychologists added a 5th level of thinking,
that develops during adulthood. The individual’s
life experiences influence this level of decision-
making.
• Post-formal thinking – adult
thinking, is logical like formal
operational thinking, but is
more personal, integrative
and practical, incorporating
the individual's life experi-
ences and commitment to the
responsibilities of career &
family. The logical decision is
not always the best decision,
when career or family is con-
sidered
 To make good decisions, you must use good judgment.
That means you must understanding the possible conse-
quences of your choice. It is a parent’s job to use their
judgment until you have proven that you have good judg-
ment. You have to LEARN good decision-making skills.
This scenario creates a
natural “struggle” between
parent and child. The
child struggles to make
independent decisions,
while the parent must ex-
ercise control while the
child matures and as long
as they are liable for the
consequences of the deci-
sion.
WE USE VALUES, GOALS, &
STANDARDS TO MAKE DECI-
SIONS
A value is a STRONG BELIEF.

INTRINSIC, internal, or core values

are personal qualities that we trea-
sure.
.
EXTRINSIC or external values are
things we consider worthwhile or
give direction to our life. Exam-
ples might include: Good health,
popularity, good health, educa-
tion, country/patriotism, friends,
family, religion, money or the
things money can buy.
 We learn values, usually from our parents.
Sometimes our values are influenced by friends,
teachers, coaches, advisors, religious leaders,
grandparents, siblings, etc.
 A goal is some point you
want to reach within your
value system.

There are 2 types of goals:

1. long term goals; they make take
months or years to achieve
2. short term goals; they may be
accomplished in hours or days

If your value is If your value is ed-

good health, can ucation, can you
you name a short name a short term
term goal? …or a goal? …or a long
long term goal? term goal?
There are three categories of resources available to you to use in
reaching your goals:
HUMAN RE- MATERIAL COMMUNITY
SOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES
(human qualities) (things) (available to many people)

A COMPUTER
INTELLIGENCE TIME
AN AIRPORT
What type of resource is?...COMMUNICATION
SKILLS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
MONEY ATHLETIC ABILITY
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
A PIANO
 I have a lot to
do, but I think
I’ll wait and do it
tomorrow!

Procrastinate means to
“put things off” until an-
other time.

Procrastination stands
in the way of reaching
goals!!!!!!!!!!
 Homework late
again? First things
first young man!

List your goals in order of im-

portance. This gives you a
sense of direction and helps you
manage your resources wisely.
 Standards are “limits or
conditions or the manner”
in which you go about
reaching your goals.
When expressing standards verbally,
you tend to use words like…
…only if
…as long as …even if
…no matter what
• Individual needs.

As Abraham Maslow theorized, human

beings have basic needs. Physiological needs
include food, shelter, air, clothing, etc. We need to feel
safe and loved. We need to feel worthwhile. We need to
feel like we’re fulfilling our potential.
• Individual wants.
3. Individual interests.
4. Individual values.
 Low self-esteem, a negative
self-concept, can cloud your judg-
ment and lead to poor decisions. At
those times, seek the advice or as-
sistance of others.

Confidence, however, and a positive self-con-

cept can be a foundation for good decision-mak-
ing skills!
1. Identify the decision to be made

2. Identify options/choices

• Research info on each option

4. Make the decision

5. Act on the decision

6. Evaluate the decision

 “To identify options” means
to brainstorm all the different
choices you have!

The individual who has not

reached the stage of formal op-
erational thinking may find it dif-
ficult to identify options that they
haven’t had personal experience
with.
 There are advantages of working in a
group to make decisions, whether that
is a group of 2 or 10. You might be able
to identify more options than you could
have discovered on your own.

The disadvantage of working in a

group to make decisions is that you
may all have different opinions of
what the right option will be.
 To “research your options” means
to list the pros and cons of each
choice… the advantages and dis-
advantages. You will need to weigh
the good things against the bad
things of each choice!

Sometimes you simply need to

gather more information before
making a decision. Investigate. Ex-
plore. Ask advice.
 Again, don’t procrastinate. Once
you’ve narrowed your options
down to the best one, take action.

After you’ve made your decision

and taken action… evaluate that
decision. Human beings learn from
their mistakes.
 1. Identify the decision to be made. I’m going to the
big city. What
I’m driving. route should I
Should I take 2. Identify options. travel?
highway 5, In-
terstate 94, or 3. Research options
just head off
cross country? Highway 5 is shorter, but has potholes. The interstate is a
good road, but the traffic is heavy and it’s stressful. Cross
country is scenic, but it’s isolated and I might get lost!

4. Make the decision I’ve decided

to take
Highway 5
5. Act on the decision
I’m on my way!

6. Evaluate the decision

Think of decision-making as
following a road map… I should have taken the interstate!
‘Decision-making’
and
‘problem-solving’
are closely linked.

Making a decision is an integral

part of the problem-solving
process. The decision is the
‘result’ or ‘action’.
 Finding a solution to your prob-
lem can be compared to trying on
a variety of hats. You need to
think through the pros and cons
of each option.

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of

actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing,
synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from,
or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reason-
ing, values, or communication… and serves as a guide to
belief and action. It is the basis of problem-solving.
 Suppose your niece Carly has muscular
dystrophy. This is a degenerative dis-
ease. She is already in a wheelchair and
is losing control of her hands and arms.
She has retained her mental ability. It is
her birthday next week; she’ll be 6
years old. You normally get her a gift
that costs between $10-20. What will you
get her this year?

1. What decision needs to be made?

2. List all your options…at least 3-5 if possible.
3. Write the pros and cons of each option. You may need to do
some research on costs, etc.
4. Make the decision!
5. How would you take “action”?
6. The look on Carly’s face will help you evalu-
John and Sue met “on line” and
want to get married right away.
John lives in Grand Island where
his job is located. He works long
hours, often 10-12 hour days, but makes
really good money and it is the perfect locally-
owned company for him to perhaps own some day.
Sue lives in Omaha, with her mother and near her
job as a nurse at the Orthopedic Hospital. She
loves her job and has finally built up enough se-
niority that she works only on weekdays with
weekends off. Sue’s mother is nearly 90 years old.
Mother is in poor health and needs Sue for com-
panionship and to run errands for her, clean, cook,
etc. Mother has lived in this house her entire life,
attends her life-long church regularly with Sue, and
has a close circle of friends that do call on her oc-
casionally. She says she can’t leave her home, but
can’t live without Sue either. John and Sue have a
problem.
 You’re moving to California! There are just no jobs in
Nebraska, and it just makes sense that you move to Cal-
ifornia where jobs are plentiful. You have an old car, 2
suitcases, and just enough money to pay for gas for the
4 day trip. You have room for yourself, 5 additional pas-
sengers and 5 more suitcases in the car. Choose your
passengers from the list given, but make sure you can
justify your decisions based on human wants, needs,
values, interests, and values.
_____Joe is a mechanic, and knows how to drive a car. You’ve never spent much time with
him, but you’ve heard people say he’s a very violent person. He has 1 piece of luggage and 6
blankets.
_____John knows how to drive a car, but knows nothing about how they work. He says he
will go with you, but only if he can bring all 4 of his big suitcases…two filled with canned food
& water.
_____Susan grew up working on her brother’s race car. She’s a good driver. She thinks
you’re great! You like having her around; she makes you feel important. She has one suit-
case, a box of bandaids, her rollerblades, and 12 Snicker’s candy bars.
_____Jack has a large thermos of fresh water to bring along. He has two suitcases, 4 rolls of
toilet paper, and is very strong. He used to be a security guard.
_____CJ has been your boy/girlfriend for the past month. He/she has two suitcases, says
they love you very much, doesn’t know how to drive, and has never held a job.
_____ Lucy has 3 suitcases, a can of Pepsi, 3 oranges, and an Aunt living in California that
has offered you free room and board for a week while you hunt for work.
_____ Paul just finished serving his 10 year prison sentence for armed robbery and assault of
a family member. He has only a small plastic bag for luggage, knows how to drive and fix cars
but doesn’t have a license. He will pay you $200 cash for his seat in the car.
_____Larry is the Pastor/Priest of your church, is your good friend, and has 2 suitcases… one
holding a small camp stove and can opener. She has a cell phone with 50 minutes left on it.
_____Karen has a Swiss army knife and a tent as big as 2 suitcases, but no other luggage.
She’s a safe driver and grew up in California.
_____Jim used to run a wilderness survival camp, where he taught people how to survive for
a month on just a ball of string, a safety pin, a flashlight, and a pack of chewing gum. Those
are the only things he’s bringing with him.
 Question: Why is it so difficult to
convince a classmate NOT to drop
out of school?
Answer: The formal operational
stage of thinking may not be fully
developed until they are older,
and they may not be able to un-
derstand consequences that they
have not personally experienced
yet.

Question: Mario truly values honesty. He is quick to tell

you that he does not believe in cheating. When he was tak-
ing his college finals, however, he did cheat. Why?
Answer: While values influence decision-making, they do
not control actions. When you make a decision against
your values… you may not be as happy with that decision.