1. Grade 8 | Unit 8.1 | Page 10
Unit 8.1
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Hi there…
Remember me? My name is Joe. In Grade 7 you read
about me in a really cool comic about the problems
I ran into …
I didn’t know how to make good decisions, but since
then I have learnt about PRICE from my uncle Enoch,
who is a teacher. He showed me that high-risk
behaviour has a high probability of bad consequences.
I hope that in future I’ll be able take my chances more
wisely!
High-risk behaviour has a high
probability of serious consequences
I’m hoping that my nephew Joe has learnt how to
make sensible decisions about high-risk and low-
risk behaviour in order to reduce the probability
of something bad happening. Before we look again
at how to take your chances wisely, here are two
examples of high-risk behaviour with their rewards
and probable consequences:

2. Grade 8 | Unit 8.1 | Page 11
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High-risk
behaviour
Getting drunk
every weekend
Taking an ecstasy
tablet
Reward
• I feel part of a “in
group”
• I like the “buzzy”
feeling I get from
alcohol
• I boast about my
daring behaviour
• My friends think it's
funny
• I feel part of a “in-
group”
• I like the “high” I get
• It makes me feel
confident
• I boast to my friends
about my daring
behaviour
Likely bad
consequences
• I get a reputation of being
silly and irresponsible
• My habit is likely to lead
to problems with alcohol
later on (like addiction)
• Causing a serious
accident
• Alcohol abuse is likely to
lead to physical health
problems
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
regularly is likely to cause
depression and
psychiatric problems
• Being in an altered state,
I'm likely do something
dangerous and stupid
• Although the long-term
effects of ecstasy are still
being studied, it is clear
that it is likely to lead to
physical problems,
especially heart problems,
epilepsy and eye disease
(glaucoma)
• After-effects are likely to
include anxiety,
depression and paranoia
Here are two scenarios:

3. High-risk behaviour has a high probability of
leading to problems; it is very likely to have bad
consequences.
Low-risk behaviour has a low probability of leading to problems;
it is unlikely that there will be bad consequences.
So, how do you minimize the likelihood or probability of bad
consequences?
Different risky behaviours have different probabilities depending on:
• your choice (the PRICE decision-making process)
• the circumstances
• your personality and character and
• sometimes sheer luck
There's not much you can do about sheer luck, and changing your
personality and character is difficult. Also, sometimes circumstances are
beyond your control, but what you do have control over is your choice.
For every decision you make and for every action you take, there is a
cost attached (the money, time, energy, and resources you spend doing
it).
So, let's go through the PRICE decision-making process again and think
about how we can reduce the risks of bad consequences …
P - Identify the purpose of the action
R - Identify the risks, consequences and probabilities
I - Assess the reliability of your information
C - Consider compromises, and create alternatives
E - Enjoy the feeling of having made a good decision
Grade 8 | Unit 8.1 | Page 12
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