Life Skills, Decision Making and Responsible Behaviour
Life Skills, Decision Making and Responsible Behaviour tests the ten WHO life skills, a step-by-step decision process, and refusal scripts for peer pressure.
Core ideas
- WHO's ten core life skills: self-awareness, empathy, critical thinking, creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, effective communication, interpersonal relationship skills, coping with stress, coping with emotions.
- Decision steps: identify the problem, gather information, list alternatives, weigh consequences (short and long term, for self and others), choose, act, then review the outcome.
- Assertiveness states your position and respects the other person; aggression attacks the person; passivity says nothing and resents it later.
- Refusal skills: a clear "no", the broken-record repeat, an exit strategy, and an alternative suggestion.
- Digital responsibility: protect passwords and images, never share another person's photo without consent, report bullying online and financial fraud on the national cybercrime portal or helpline 1930.
- Road safety: helmets, seat belts, and no driving without a valid licence - 18 years for a geared motorcycle.
Worked example
A 16-year-old friend offers you a ride on his unlicensed motorbike. Use the consequence matrix: short-term fun versus injury risk, police action, and his family's liability; long-term, riding without a licence builds a habit of ignoring rules. Refusal script: "No, I'm not getting on - if we're stopped, your parents are in trouble and we could be hurt. Let's take the bus." Then suggest the alternative and walk away.
Traps that cost marks
- "Everyone does it" - the bandwagon appeal, not a reason.
- Confusing assertiveness with aggression; shouting is not confidence.
- Deciding and never reviewing, so the same mistake repeats.
- Ignoring consequences for other people, which makes the decision self-centred rather than responsible.