*If you’re 10-12 years old, review the content below to pass your Decision Making Quiz!
Module 2: Personal Values and Decision Making
Personal values influence the decisions we make because we make decisions based on things that are important to us. Being clear on your personal values will help you make your own decisions and for others to understand the rationale behind the decisions you do make. Some examples of values include: Accountability, determination, integrity, adventurousness, discipline, and intuition. Personal values are important in the “Observe and collect information” step of the decision making process. In this step, considering your own personal values and those of others involved in the decision you are trying to make will help you come to the best conclusion. A good exercise to understanding your own values is to consider decisions you made in the past and what influenced those decisions.
Example 1 – Should I continue to practice a shot that I am not good at?
When deciding whether or not to practice a shot that you are bad at during golf practice so you can get it right, your personal values will influence what you choose to do. If you place great importance on discipline, when collecting information and reflecting on your own thoughts about the decision, the desire to be disciplined, especially at golf, will help you to decide to practice the shot so you can improve your game!
Example 2 – What to eat for lunch?
If you find yourself needing to make a decision about what to eat for lunch, you would take your personal values to lead a balanced and healthful life into consideration when collecting all necessary information. During this step in the decision-making process you would think about what you ate earlier that day, if you have plans to eat a less healthy meal later, and how to best incorporate your value of balance into your decision. This might mean choosing a salad for lunch since you plan to have hamburgers for dinner.
Module 3: Social Conventions and Decision Making
A “convention” is a set of agreed upon or generally accepted standards, norms or criteria, also called “customs.” Therefore, “social conventions” are those things that are agreed upon norms within a specific social group. There are social conventions for almost every situation you might find yourself in. For example, social conventions in golf include being quiet while a player is preparing for a shot and following the dress code. Social conventions affect the way we make decisions because they represent some guidelines that probably need to be followed.
Example 1 – What to wear to the golf course?
You have golf practice at a new course today and aren’t sure of the dress code but know there probably is one. This social convention would influence which people you link in during the third step in the decision-making process. You want to follow this social convention so you are sure to ask your coach, your teammates, and if none of these people know, you call the course to ask a staff member so you can be sure to follow this social convention.
Example 2 – The Right Outfit?
In addition to the golf course, many social situations dictate the kind of outfit that is appropriate. Thinking carefully about social conventions for certain events, locations, and the audience will help you to make decisions about what kind of clothing you should wear. When deciding what to wear to church you would probably collect different information and link in different people than if you were going to a pool party.