Values & Authority This booklet was prepared by Greater Sudbury Police Service. 12
Values, Influences and Peers Values: Values are those qualities that an individual or a society considers important as principles for conduct and that are intrinsically worthwhile. (the worth, merit, usefulness, or importance of a thing) Influences: Moral persuasion, power of affecting others through the use of authority, money or social position. Peers: People that are similar, one of the same rank or qualities. (Often it is useful to keep referring to these criteria through out your nine presentations) Personal Values Personal values are values that are acquired and held, consciously or unconsciously, by each individual. An individual's personal values profoundly affect his or her thinking and behaviour, although personal values are strongly influenced by the values held by society in general. Values shape an individual s behaviour, the development of personal rules, and, ultimately, the laws that regulate society. Learning the steps of decision making will help you make the right decision when it comes to committing a crime. There are five steps to decision making. They are: 1) Collecting information 2) Setting goals 3) Brainstorming 4) Evaluating 5) Taking action Now let s suppose someone says to you, Come on. Let s go, we won t get caught. Go through the five steps. Stop and think! 1) Collect information: Where are we going? Why? Who else is involved? What do you want me to do? When? 2) Set Goals: Do you have career goals, personal goals? How will this effect those goals? Will this help you reach your goals? If it won t help you, don t do it. 3) Brainstorm: Consider all the consequences of committing a crime; legal, personal, financial, relationships, family, effect on employment or school. Consider short-term and long-term consequences. 4) Evaluate: Of all the consequences you have considered, which ones are negative? If you find you have negative consequences, throw the idea of committing a crime out. 5) Taking Action: Once you have evaluated the risks involved, considered the penalties and discovered that the consequences of committing a crime are too serious, then take the right actions. List 5 things you can say to friends who want you to commit a crime... 2 11
How Values Guide Behaviours and Decisions The following examples show how our values underlie our behaviours and decisions. Note that these values are only examples. Value Patience Cleanliness Responsibility Punctuality Respect for self Fairness Behaviour or Decision giving others time to express their ideas attending to personal hygiene disposing of litter in containers designed for that purpose putting away equipment after using it returning borrowed items meeting deadlines for school assignments being on time for appointments taking only those drugs that have been medically prescribed and only according to directions ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to succeed Here are some personal values that most people consider important: acceptance freedom compassion generosity co-operation honesty courage justice courtesy loyalty equality of opportunity moderation fairness patience -belief in importance of -belief in importance to maintaining health & fitness achieve personal potential -trustworthiness -punctuality -open-mindedness -courtesy -belief in importance of -belief in importance of personal spiritual values cherishing first language, culture and others acquired peace respect for the environment respect for life respect for self responsibility self-discipline sensitivity -belief in importance of learning -kindness -cleanliness 10 3
Family Values Family members have expectations of each other based on their own family values. These values may differ from person to person even within the closest family. The following are some common family values. Here are some common family values: loyalty to the family unit and to individual family members sympathy for family members Authority and its representatives 1a) What are persons in authority that are most important to you in your life? Explain: 2.Why do we need persons in authority? 3.Describe how a sporting activity (like baseball) would be played without an umpire? co-operation a sense of responsibility towards the family respect for family members honesty 4.How must we behave towards a person in authority? 5.How do you behave in front of someone in authority? a belief in the importance of sharing resources with family members respect for family rules 6a) Must we always obey someone in authority? Yes o No o Explain: b) What can we do when someone abuses their authority? 4 9
AUTHORITY FIGURES Societal values To maintain the kind of democratic society in which we want to live, we must share important values such as: Unscramble the letters to discover the hidden authority figures. 1. OPILCE 2. PLCINIRAP 3. EARSTCHE 4. CSUTO DAELER 5. OCHACES 6. RPEANTS 7. VGEOREMNTN peace respect for the environment respect for life respect for self responsibility respect for property and society sensitivity acceptance -respect for the law 8. YAMRO 9. DUJEG 10. FERREEE 11. SUBREVIRD -a belief in the importance of examining our laws for fairness and working within the law to change those that are unfair -respect for the local community 12. OUYRELFS 13. BYABRSITTE 2. Can you think of other authority figures? 8 co-operation participation in public life respect for others justice respect for diversity willingness to compromise equality of opportunity moderation a commitment to fairness and equality 5 patience
Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Who are your peers? Name: At work, at school, like anywhere else, I have the right, as a human being, to be respected by others. Because of this, I know how to recognize if someone does not show me respect. Answer yes or no. Is it lacking respect if someone: Why do you want to feel accepted by them? In what kinds of situations at home, in school, in the community have you felt peer pressure? a) According to you, what does peer pressure mean? a) treats me like an imbecile, idiot, dummy? b) greets me in passing by? c) hits me foolishly? d) does not answer when I speak to them? e) taps me on the shoulder in a friendly way f) trips me without apologizing? g) laughs at my clothing? h) jokes with me? i) notices my shyness? j) never speaks to me? k) does not explain to me because it s too long l) yells at me impatiently? m) asks about my family? n) snubs others? o) leaves and signals with a hand wave? Complete. b) How do others try to influence you to do things that are not right? c) How do you feel faced with this situation? 1 st rule: If I want others to love me, I must 2 nd rule: If I want others to control their emotions, I must 3 rd rule: If I want others to have confidence in me, I must d) How would you feel if you were excluded from a group of peers? Why? e) How can you manage in situations of negative peer pressure? 4 th rule: If I want others to respect me, I must 3.a) Has it ever happened to you to not be respected? If yes, when? b) Has it ever happened that you did not respect someone? 6 If yes when? 7