1. The document defines life skills as abilities that enable individuals to effectively deal with everyday demands and challenges. It categorizes life skills into communication, decision making, and coping skills. 2. It discusses the benefits of life skills education, including health, education, social, cultural, economic, and political benefits. Life skills education can improve relationships, learning, and reduce dropout rates. 3. The document covers key topics in life skills, including self-awareness and self-esteem. Self-awareness involves understanding one's strengths, weaknesses, and identity. High self-esteem is displayed through confidence and independence, while low self-esteem involves difficulty speaking up and feeling guilty.

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SOARING EAGLE COMMUNITY
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
P.O BOX 196 – 90203
KITUI
TEL: +254 724 327 237
+254 791 847 073
OCCUPATIONAL
INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
LIFE SKILLS

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Topic 1: Introduction to Life Skills
Definition of Life Skills
Life skills are “abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal
effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life” (WHO, 1994).
Life skills promotes development of positive attitudes and behavior; knowing how to cope with
stress; knowing how to identify, analyze and resist the negative effects of gender discrimination
and, in turn, developing positive gender attitudes; making informed decisions on matters that
affect people and practice healthy behaviors; as well as acting positively and effectively when
confronted with difficult situation.
Benefits of Life skills
1. Health benefits
Life skills education addresses the combination of psychological and social factors that
contribute to healthy behavior
The implementation of life skills education in schools addresses the needs of all learners
The promotion of personal and social skills is an important aspect of health promotion
intervention that aim to empower the individual to promote his/her own health as well as the
health of others and of the community.
 Education Benefits
Life skills education introduces learner-centered and interactive teaching method
which can have a positive impact on:
A. The relationships between teachers and pupils or young people’s enjoyment of
learning
B. Teacher’s job satisfaction
C. Rates of drop outs and absenteeism from school
Life skills have impact on the teaching of academic subjects
There are indications that life skills education can have positive impact on academic
performance.
 Social benefits
Life skills education helps to clarify the needs of young people growing and so result
in less delinquency among adolescents
 Cultural Benefits
Life skills education helps to clarify the culture of young people growing up in
modern societies. Life skills education is of particular value to young people growing
in multicultural societies.

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 Economic Benefits
Life skills education, and skills promoted, appear to be amongst the ones most highly
valued by the future employers of young people
Early prevention can be expected to reap maximum rewards in regard to healthy
society, especially since the health and social problems prevalent today have at their
root at component a human behavior
 Political Benefits
Life skills education addresses the needs of the child as specified in the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Categories of Life Skills
Life Skills can be categorized into three major categories: Communication and
Interpersonal Skills, Decision Making and Critical Thinking Skills, and Coping and
Self-Management Skills (WHO, 2001).
Living values and our lives
Living Values are the principles of life that have been adopted in the international
education approach, which focus on children of all ages, genders, cultures & religions.
They encompass all values of common or universal humanity.
The twelve common living or universal values are:
i. Peace: Peace is the original quality of the self. In its purest form, peace is inner
silence. It consists of positive thoughts, pure feelings and good wishes to have
peace you need patience. When you are peaceful, you create an atmosphere of
peace. Peace in the world can only be realized when there is peace in the minds of
man.
ii. Love: Where there is love, there is a world. Love looks on all with a vision of
equality. Love is all giving without any thought of a return. A heart that has love is
able to accommodate the whole universe and still has space for more. Selfless love
is truly unlimited; it forgets and forgives the weakness and sees only beauty and
specialties in everyone.
iii. Respect: This is about placing value on the life and existence of self and others.
iv. Tolerance: The ability to tolerate situations enhances quietness and internal
happiness. Tolerance enables a person to accommodate various circumstances.
v. Responsibility:every person has a role to play in this world. Responsibility requires
each individual to perform their duty diligently and as required.
vi. Humility: Humility is dedication to the extent that no acknowledgement is sought
for the self. Humility allows you to learn. There is great strength in humility. It

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never holds on to anyone for support. Everyone bows down to those who bow
down first.
vii. Honesty: Speak with honesty and you will get a chance to learn. The one who is
honest will speak about themselves first, not about others. Others won’t get
impressed by your words.
viii. Co-operation: It is based on faith, love, trust and understanding. It is not a
bargaining game, in which one person’s success is achieved at the expense of
another. Real cooperation takes place when there are good wishes and pure feelings
for each other.
ix. Happiness: There is happiness when each moment is used in a worthwhile way.
Happiness is such nourishment that it can transform a person, from weak to
powerful, it makes difficult things easy and heavy things light. To remain happy
and share happiness with others is the greatest act of charity. No matter what
happens, your happiness should not be lost.
x. Simplicity: Simplicity is identifying and being comfortable with those elaborate
circumstances which shape our lives without worrying or making matters
complicated.
xi. Freedom: Freedom starts in the mind. Understanding the self is the key to freedom.
The more one understand the self, the easier it is to be liberated from waste.
Freedom means to be uninfluenced, Unaffected and to be at peace with the self.
True freedom is to experience the true essence of one’s being and that is peace.
xii. Unity: Unity is harmony within and amongst individuals. It is built from a shared
vision and for the common good. Unity is appreciating the values of each
individual and their unique contributions.
Understanding the living values of humanity helps in enhances awareness of values
and value-based systems of learning in the community.
Living values helps learners to understand their worth and purpose in life. It promotes
integrity and peace in the society.
Living values education also enhances individual development and cultural heritage
by emphasizing positive values. Awareness of living values is necessary for humanity
to flourish for a long time.
Relationship between life skills and living values
Life skills are supported by living values. A person with humility and tolerance
develops the life skills of being sociable and relating well with others. Happiness also
enhances the development of life skills such as positive interpersonal relations and
emotional strength. Furthermore, developing living values is necessary in promoting

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collaboration and teamwork skills. A person who has unity and love is able to work
effectively with others in teams.
Discussion: Think of other ways in which values and life skills are interrelated, such
as developing the skills to manage stress b adopting the values of humility and
tolerance.
Topic 2: Self-Awareness
Life Skills Can be categorized into Three Groups:
Skills of Knowing and Living with One Self
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to appreciate oneself, including the strong and weak
points of one’s character. It is the knowledge of one self in terms of what one can do
and what one cannot do. This realization enables one to take action and make choices
and decisions which are consistent with one’s abilities. This enables people to:
 Recognize the weak and strong aspects of one’s behavior
 Recognize the weak and strong sides of one’s own thoughts and abilities
 Differentiate what one can do or can’t do by herself/ himself
 Recognize things which cannot be changed, and accept them.
 Recognize whatever people may say, each person is different and should value
himself or herself for being unique
 Recognize one’s own unique talents
People need to have a clear sense of their identity, understanding of past experiences
and influences, culture and family background. Proper understanding on oneself
enhances the ability to use other life skills effectively. Self-awareness helps
individuals get better aquatinted with their feelings, emotions, attitudes, hopes,
dreams, physical bodies, who they are, where they are going, how to get there, and it
gives them ability to cope with challenges they are likely to encounter in their lives.
Some values associated with self-awareness skill include:
 Respect
 Humility
 Love
 Happiness
 Freedom

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Topic 3: Self-Esteem
Definition of Self-Esteem
Self-esteem refers to how an individual feels about personal aspects such as
appearance, abilities and behavior and grows on the basis of their experiences of being
competent and successful in what they attempt. It enables an individual to evaluate his
or her self-worth. This is determined by how one values herself or himself in terms of
physical and psychological status. How one feels influences his or her actions towards
others. This is largely influenced by the person’s socialization with family members,
friends, teachers, peers, and others.
Signs of a Person with High Self-Esteem
Self-esteem refers to how an individual feels about personal aspects such as
appearance, abilities and behavior and grows on the basis of their experiences of being
competent and successful in what they attempt. It enables an individual to evaluate his
or her self-worth. This is determined by how one values him or himself in terms of
physical and psychological status. How one feels influences his or her actions towards
others. This is largely influenced by the person’s socialization with family members,
friends, teachers, peers, and others.
Signs of a Person with Low Self-Esteem
 Difficulties in speaking up one’s mind
 Feeling guilty and saying “I’m Sorry” always
 Always following what others are doing or saying, e.g. wearing what others wear.
 Not being able to make independent choices
 Doing things or buying gifts excessively for others
 Having negative perception about yourself
Importance of High Self-Esteem
 Being yourself and always staying happy with purpose, goals, values and vision of
life
 Enables someone to appreciate different opinions, leading to positive relations with
others.
 Leads to the ability to express oneself and enables a person to defend their actions
and stand by their principles.
 Enables people to face their challenges and overcome them
 People with high self-esteem do not fear uncertainties, and reduce anxiety and
stress in their lives.
 People with high self-esteem develop resilience to help them deal with the ups and
downs of life.

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 Getting along well with others and maintaining relationships without needing
approval.
Factors that Enhance High or Low Self-Esteem/factors that affect self-esteem
 Parents/family: The general atmosphere in the family contributes more to people’s
view of themselves than any event. The parents input carries a considerable great
weight on development of self-esteem
 Physical appearance: People formulate a mental image of themselves from the
praises or ridicule of others regarding their appearance. This includes height,
weight, complexion, symmetrical features of the face and body.
 Education: People tend to formulate a metal picture of self-based on their success
and failure in the eyes of significant others
 Friends and Peers: One of the pillars of self-esteem is acceptance. Peer may
confirm what one has been taught at home. The nicknames and jokes about each
other can hurt, thus affecting ones self-esteem. They cut deep and chop at positive
aspects of self-image.
 Culture: As adults, people are constantly searching for approval and security in
their relationships with others.
 Stereotyping: Stereotype is a form of discrimination.
 Authority Figures: Constant put-down can affect ones personality negatively,
while affirmation of one’s performance and positive criticisms will enhance one’s
self-esteem
 Significant others: Many people will glow when they feel and know they are
loved for who they are. The opposite of this e.g. constant criticisms will affect
one’s self esteem negatively
 Engaging in self-defeating behavior patterns: These block achievements of a
possible meaningful life. People then choke under pressure and make poor
decisions that entrench focus on negativity.
Effects of Low Self-Esteem
 Poor self-esteem distorts the massages people receive from others, and the way
people interpret events in life. It filters out the positive message and leaves people
feeling negative about themselves

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 Unhealthy Relationships are common because one is unable to relate with people
without fear of rejection
 Poor choice of marriage partners is also common e.g. A very educated man who
has poor self-esteem may choose to marry a woman with very inferior education so
that he can be able to control her.
 Low self-esteem can result in constant feelings of fear and guilt that can be very
crippling to one’s advancement in life. They may never realize their full potential
due to fear.
 One can develop personality disorders.
 One is generally unhappy.
 Vulnerability to sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV &AIDS, physical and
emotional abuse.
 Indulgence in drug abuse.
Ways of boosting Self-Esteem/Ways of building positive self-esteem
 When people grasp their self-worth, they are empowered with confidence and
courage to handle life difficulties.
 People can learn that they have the potential to be rational. They have the capacity
to make appropriate choices, they are emotional beings – they have the ability to
feel; they can act on what they have heard; and have eternity within themselves.
 Acquiring new choices- to be made when negative circumstances come as part of
rebuilding process.
 Learning to forgive those who hurt us in the past is another part of rebuilding
process.
 Praise/acknowledging effort.
 Practicing healthy habits.
 Setting goals and pursuing them.
 Grooming well and maintaining good physical appearance.
Topic 4: Stress Management
Definition of Stress
Stress refers to the reaction of a body to changes in the environment that requires
adjustment or response. Human bodies respond to changes through emotional, mental
and physical reactions. Stress can be positive to keep us alert and ready for changes in
life; but when the body is exposed to continuous challenges without rest it leads to
negative stress, which can be the cause of tension and depression. The body reacts
automatically to physiological changes that cause stress through the nervous system.
Causes of Stress
Stress can be caused by various factors that lead to changes and responses of the
nervous system. Some causes of stress include:

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 Conflicts
 Growth and development
 Peer pressure
 Poor communication with relatives and friends
 Poor time management
 The need to belong to a social group
 Exposure to significant pressure
 Having worries about something – causing mental stress
 Exposure to uncertainties such as job insecurity, business risks, etc.
 Going through overwhelming challenges and responsibilities
 Being unable to control the situation
Effects of Stress
Stress has significant effects or outcomes on the body, mind and soul. When someone
faces significant stress, the body reacts by releasing hormones through the nervous
system. Such hormones causes the person to fight or take off. This is called “fight or
flight” reaction. This can cause the heartbeat rate to increase, the breathing to be
faster, and muscles to become more tensed. A person can also start sweating. The
body usually recovers from such temporary reactions (acute stress). Short-term stress
results in mild health issues such as:
 Headaches.
 Fatigue.
 Lack of concentrating.
 Difficulties in sleeping.
 Stomach upsets.
 Irritation.
If the stress persists for a long time, it may result to more serious health problems:
 Depression
 Asthma
 Arthritis
 Anxiety
 High blood pressure
 Heart diseases.
 Abnormal heartbeat
 Heart Attack
 Obesity
 Loss of sex drive

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 Fertility problems
Copying With Stress
The strategies of copying with stress include:
 Communicating effectively
 Positive attitudes towards self
 Sharing our feelings with others
 Exercising regularly
 Seeking social support
 Eating balanced diet
 Removing the source of stress
 Seeking counselling
 Accept situations that you can’t control
 Be assertive and proactive rather than being reactive
 Use relaxation techniques such as yoga
 Manage your time effectively
 Avoid drugs and alcohol
Forms of Positive Stress
Positive stress is referred to as eustress. It includes different forms such as:
 Travel
 Falling in love
 Changes in life such as an upcoming wedding/marriage
 Beginning something or a new process
 Experiencing new things in life such as pregnancies
Values Associated With Positive Stress Management
 Peace
 Tolerance
 Unity
 Cooperation
 Simplicity
Topic 5: Coping With Emotion
Definition of Emotions
Emotions refer to the strong feelings experienced by a person emanating from
personal circumstances and moods or relationship with other people. It is an
instinctive feeling that is free of reason or logic. One’s feelings are determined by a
person’s senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Accordingly, the process of

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coping with stress entails managing one’s inner feelings, especially when faced with
negative feelings such as anger, sorrow, sadness, shock and anxiety.
Good and Bad Feelings
Good Feelings
Some of the good feelings that a person may experience include:
 Happiness
 Interest
 Joy
 Excitement
 Curiosity
 Love
 Contentment
 Gratitude
Negative Emotions
Examples bad feelings include:
 Sadness
 Anger
 Jealousy
 Loneliness
 Self-criticism
 Fear
 Rejection
 Disgust
Causes of Good and Bad Emotions
Good emotions are often caused by certain factors such as:
 When one reaches or achieves their goal
 Family support or unity
 Self-improvement or satisfaction
 Acceptance in a group which brings sense of belonging
 Experiencing or living with good health
 Fulfilment of personal wishes or expectations
 Effective time management
 Clean and conducive environment
Meaning of Emotional Intelligence

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Emotional intelligence (EQ) refers to the ability to understand and manage one’s
emotions positively to reduce stress, communicate, and relate well with others.
It is also the ability of a person to identify their emotions and those of others, and
being able to respond positively to such emotions.
Emotional intelligence can be seen when someone is has high self-awareness and
understands their feelings. High emotional intelligence is also characterized by
calmness, taking control of situations and thoughts, appreciating the feelings of others,
taking criticism positively, not overreacting to issues, showing authenticity, praising
others, giving meaningful feedback, forgiving others, and apologizing.
Feelings Which Can Lead to Risky Behavior
Bad feelings can sometimes lead to self-destruction. When someone experiences some
emotions, they can react negatively. Here is a list of feelings that can lead to risky
behaviors:
 Sadness: When someone is sad, they can commit suicide or hurt others
 Excitement: When excited, a person can overindulge in things such as celebrations
through drinking making noise.
 Bitterness: Bitterness can cause someone to take revenge and harm others.
 Anger: Anger can also cause damages to property, self, or others.
Ways of Coping with Negative Emotions
 Not being over-reactive to issues – being patient and calm
 Do not keep remembering things that cause negative emotions – get negative
emotions out of your mind and focus on positive emotions.
 Being reasonable is another important way of coping with negative emotions –
accept that there are situations you cannot change.
 Relaxation – participate in relieving activities such as walking, talking, and
reading. Such relaxing habits keep you off negative feelings.
 Do exercises regularly to lower your stress levels.
 Forget about the past, believe in yourself, and focus on how you can improve your
future.
Values Associated with Emotional Intelligence
 Respect: Due regard for the feelings of others
 Tolerance: Openness to differences and diversity among people
 Humility: Lowliness of the mind – modesty
 Peace: Freedom from disturbance – calmness.

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Topic 6: Empathy
Definition of Empathy
Empathy is being able to understand the feelings of other people and appreciate their
positions or ideologies.
It can also be defined as putting oneself in the shoes of another.
Moreover, it is the ability to sense and share the emotions of other people – being able
to imagine or consider the feelings and thoughts of other people in certain situations.
Empathy falls under the cluster of social awareness in the field of Emotional
Intelligence.
Importance of Empathy
 Understanding other people’s feelings helps the subject of empathy to feel relieved
or feel as though some burden have been removed off their shoulders.
 Promotes effective communication
 Allows room for feedback and improvement
 Helps people to demonstrate their understanding of others.
 When you understand that someone has a certain feeling, e.g. when a child is sad,
you can be able to determine what they are going through in their home, e.g. if their
mother is ill.
 Empathy helps someone to know what to do or how to react to certain situations
involving interactions with others.
 Empathy helps people to share the same feelings that other people feel, helping
them to find the right solution in given situations.
 Empathy is important in building trust because one is able predict the reactions of
teammates by empathizing with them.
Difference between Empathy and Sympathy
Empathy refers to understand and share the feelings of other people as though we
have the same feelings ourselves. Sympathy entails being able to take part in the
feelings of others, e.g. feeling sad when someone else is undergoing a misfortune.
Empathy refers to the ability to project one’s feelings onto another object. Sympathy
involves a focus on tastes and opinions, e.g. when you feel sympathy for a character in
a movie.
Situations Requiring Empathy
 During the death or loss of a loved one
 When infected with HIV & AIDS

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 When one loses a job or being jobless
 During illness or a pandemic
 In any other life-threatening situation
Values Associated with Empathy
 Love: Having strong feelings and giving without the need for something in return.
 Respect: Being positive towards oneself and towards others.
 Responsibility
 Peace: Freedom from disturbance – calmness.
 Tolerance
 Co-operation
Topic 7: Assertiveness
Definition of Assertiveness
Assertiveness is a confident behavior; it is the ability to state your feelings without
anger or being passive. It involves standing for your rights without offending others.
Assertiveness is an essential skill in communication and social interaction. An
assertive person is able to defend her/himself’s rights and those of others calmly and
positively.
Characteristics of an Assertive Person
An assertive person has the following characteristics:
 They express their feelings and thoughts freely
 They are able to develop and retain meaningful relationships with others.
 Understand and defend their rights boldly and calmly.
 They are able to control their anger and talk about their feelings in a reasonable
manner
 They are willing to compromise with others
 Show self-respect and respect for others
Steps to Being Assertive: Assertiveness Training
 Assertiveness is used with excessive shy people or withdrawn individuals. It often
used in groups.
 The major tenet of assertiveness training is that a person should be free to express
thoughts and feelings without undue influence.
 The client is taught that everyone has the right (not obligation) of self-expression.
The client then learns the difference among aggressive, passive and assertive
actions

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 A client tells the counselor at the beginning what the objectives are, for example, to
be able to speak out in a job interview.
 The counselor gives the client both positive and negative feedback about present
behavior.
 The next step involve the modeling of the desired behavior and the client role
playing of the behavior observed.
 The counselor then reinforces the behavior and helps to shape the clients
 Finally the client is given assignments to be completed between sessions.
 It is important that assertive behavior should be shaped gradually in order to keep
the client reassured.
Tips for Being Assertive
 Make the decision to become positively assertive – commit to being assertive rather
than being aggressive or passive
 Focus on communicating openly and honestly.
 Listen actively to understand other people’s points of view.
 Accept that having a different point of view does not mean you are right and other
people are wrong.
 See others as your friends rather than enemies when handling conflicts.
 Practice assertiveness.
 Always stay calm, breathe normally, look at the other party in the eye, maintain
face contact, and speak with confidence.
 Use “I” statements such as “I think”, “I believe,” etc.
 Be honest in saying how you feel and don’t make others feel guilty.
Importance of Being Assertive
 Enables the person to control themselves effectively
 Helps reduce or avoid stress
 Enhances the ability to resolve conflicts positively and in a calm way.
 Helps someone not to be afraid of saying their disagreement or opposing points of
view
 Helps people to have confidence in themselves and in others.
 Improving communication skills
 Achieve improved job satisfaction and performance
 Enhance win-win situations
 Promotes honest relationships
 Improves decision making and problem-solving skills
Difference between Passive, Assertiveness and Aggressiveness

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Passive Assertive Aggressive
Thinking your needs don’t
matter at all
Recognizing that your
needs matter as much as
anyone else
Thinking that only your
needs matter
Giving in Compromising Taking
Not talking, not being
heard
Talking and Listening Talking over people
Trying to keep the peace Making sure things are
fair for you and others
Looking out for yourself
Allowing oneself to be
bullied
Standing up for yourself Bullying others
Not saying what you think Expressing your points
clearly and firmly
Shouting, aggressing, and
violence
Damages relationships –
people respect you less
Builds relationships –
people know where they
stand
Damages relationships –
some people don’t like
aggression
Damages one’s self-
esteem
Builds your self-esteem Damages other people’s
self-esteem
Difference between Peer Pressure and Peer Influence
Definitions of Peer Pressure and Peer Influence:
Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is pressure from one’s peers to act in a way that is
acceptable to the others in the same group.
Peer Influence: Peer influence is when a peer’s act persuades the others to act in a
particular way.
Type of Act:
Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is a forcible act that pressurizes the peers to perform in
a way acceptable to others.

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Peer Influence: Peer influence is a persuasive act of encouraging others to act
accordingly.
Individual Identity:
Peer Pressure: In peer pressure, there is always a chance that individual identity will
be lost, as it is forced to follow what others do.
Peer Influence: There is a less chance of losing individual identity in peer influence.
Nature:
Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is action oriented, which forces others to do some work.
Peer Influence: Peer influence is a behavioral approach, which helps developing
skills of the peers.
Freedom:
Peer Pressure: As peer pressure is a forcible act, whether it is a good act or bad act, it
compels one to follow others.
Peer Influence: In peer influence, there is still a choice / freedom for the peers to
decide whether to follow or not.
Peer Pressure Peer Influence
Involves force to pressurize peers to act in a
certain way of do something
Persuasive act that encourages people to act in
a certain way without the use of force
It sometimes leads to the loss of individual
identity
Little to no chance of losing individual
identity
It is action oriented – forced to do something It is behavior oriented – developing a skill
Compels someone to follow peers One has the choice or freedom to decide
Values Associated with Assertiveness
 Love
 Honesty
 Simplicity
 Cooperation
Topic 8: Negotiation
Definition of Negotiation
Negotiation refers to the process of discussing issues openly and calmly to arrive at an
agreement and understanding between two or more parties. It is a process in which
people make decisions or settle differences by holding discussions.

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The ultimate end of a negotiation process should be to end a dispute, avoid an
argument, and find consensus. In any difference of opinion, each party always looks
to assert their position and achieve their interests. However, it is important to apply
the principles of fairness and justice to ensure that each party benefits from the
outcome of negotiation. Negotiation requires individuals to gain a mutual
understanding and benefit, and to establish lasting relationship after the negotiation
process.
Importance of Negotiation
Whether as a student or an employee, one needs to develop negotiation skills in order
to develop positive interpersonal relationship with people around them. In the job
market, you will meet many people with varying interests and needs. You will need to
work with them, but at the same time your needs are paramount. How do you ensure
that you maintain healthy relations and still benefit from the group?
Here is a list of the advantages of having good negotiation skills:
 To establish positive relations with peers and develop a sense of belonging
 Professional and career development: You will become a better employee if you gain
good negotiation skills. You can establish rapport with colleagues, solve problems
easily, and make effective decisions at the workplace.
 Solving Conflicts: Negotiation entails calm and proactive discussions, which
eventually help team members to resolve their disputes effectively.
 Effective communication: Negotiation helps people to become better and proficient
at communication. During negotiation, individuals learn to exchange ideas and
information quite effectively to address issues. Through negotiation, you can see
through the eyes of others, and through your own eyes as well. As a result, it
becomes possible to gain a broader and complete perspective of the situation and
gain more information from others. Thus, negotiation helps people to learn how to
listen and communicate effectively.
 Problem Solving: You can solve problems affecting you as a team if you have good
negotiation skills. In life, individuals will always face interpersonal and
professional conflicts that need to be resolved in one way or another. Negotiation
helps people to learn effective strategies used in solving the problems they
encounter in every-day life.

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 Decision Making: Negotiation helps people to make decisions every day. At school,
home or work, we are required to make decisions. Most of the times, our decisions
affect other people as well. Thus, negotiation helps people make effective decisions
affecting teams or organizations.
 Improves self–concept: Negotiation helps people to understand themselves better.
By listening to the perspectives of others and reading through their minds, an
individual is able to gain an understanding of themselves and the people around
them.
 Self-confidence: Knowing to express oneself through the negotiation process leads
to self-confidence and high self-esteem.
Therefore, negotiation applies to any situation in human life. We experience
negotiation at work, home and school. When a student gets out of school and meets
new people in the job market, they need good negotiation skills to be able to
communicate, solve conflicts, and relate positively with others.
Situations that Require Negotiation
There are several situations of life that require negotiation:
 Communicating with peers – Relating well with peers to avoid peer pressure.
 Pre-marital sex – You need to negotiate well with your partner on whether, why,
and how you should engage in pre-marital sex. Mutual understanding is needed to
avoid breakage of relationships due to misunderstanding on the issue of sex.
 Drug Abuse: You need to make appropriate decisions when it comes to the use of
drugs and alcohol. If you do not have good negotiation skills, you will be misled to
engage in drugs. If you are good in negotiation, you will persuade your peers not to
engage in alcohol and drug abuse.
 War: Every society faces situations of wars. Communities sometimes come
together to discuss and negotiate how to resolve inter-community conflicts and
wars. Negotiation is needed to prevent war and maintain peace.
 Internal Conflicts: Negotiation is also needed to resolve internal conflicts at home,
school or work. For instance, employees in a company may disagree on how to
spend some money. If the team does not agree, the money might end up being
wasted. For efficient use of resources, it is necessary for the team to negotiate
effectively.

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 Juvenile Delinquency: Young people too often engage in delinquent behaviors. This
occurs when a person is not able to stand on their own beliefs and take individual
responsibility. By following peers and not being able to control emotions, one can
be persuaded to engage in crime. However, negotiation can be used by the
individual to convince others that crime is not good. This leads to reduced
delinquency among young people.
The Negotiation Process:
Negotiation is a process that takes a number of steps. It is necessary to prepare well
before negotiation and to discuss calmly during negotiations. Here is a list of the steps
taken during a negotiation process:
Preparation: During preparation, the individuals make decisions on where, when and
why they will hold a discussion to solve a problem. The negotiating parties should
have a timeline on when to start and complete the negotiation. You also gather the
facts and information related to the situation. For example, if it is a conflict at school
you must know who is affected, what subjects were involved in the issue, and what
school rules apply.
Discussion: With the facts in hand, the team can now hold discussions to dissect the
information. During negotiation, the parties need to have questioning, communication,
and listening skills. Taking notes may at times be necessary to gather the information
of others and understand their perspectives. Listening is key. Do not react and assert
your position without giving the other person a chance to give their opinion. Empathy
is also necessary – put yourself into the shoes of the other person and look through
their eyes.
Clarification of Goals: In this stage, the negotiating parties should list down their goals,
interests and views from the information they gathered during discussion. The team
can then list the above factors in order of priority. Which of the issues you listed is
most important? For instance, one of my goals would be to advance in my career, and
that could be my first priority factor during the negotiation. So I will put that goal at
the top of my list.
Identify a win-win outcome: After listing key goals and interests, you now negotiate for
a win-win outcome that is mutually beneficial to everyone. This is usually the best
result. Not all your needs will be met, and not all the needs of the other party will be
met. But you arrive at compromises where you give up the least important interests to
accommodate the interests of the other party. For instance, if your employer
negotiates with you terms of employment. You may be required to choose between
career training and increased salary because the employer has an interest in reducing

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expenses. If your priority is career advancement, you give up salary increment so that
the employer can spend money in your training and development. This way, you reach
a win-win situation where you gain career skills and development while the employer
reduces their expenses.
Agreement: Once both sides understand their viewpoints and interests in order of
priority, it becomes easier to arrive at an agreement. Each party should be open-
minded in order to reach an agreement. The agreement should be clear so that each
party knows what has been agreed on.
Implementation of the Agreement: Here it is about implementing what you have agreed.
If the agreement is to provide training opportunities to an employee, then the
employer should start developing training workshops or training kits.
Negotiating Techniques
During negotiation, there are certain strategies and techniques you need to develop:
 Consider the viewpoints of the other party
Listen carefully
Appreciate the self-worth of the other party
Be consistent with your interests and goals
Avoid indoctrination and hardline – be flexible
Do not patronize
Avoid interruptions when others are speaking
 Stay Calm and Rational
Do not jump into conclusions
Criticize your views
Reflect on what you are saying
Think before you speak
Avoid blaming people
Do not make hostile remarks
Be proactive, not reactive
Avoid sarcasm and rejections
Control your emotions
 Be Precise in Your Speech
Don’t generalize things
Be specific
Use the pronoun “I”
Be fully descriptive

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Focus on the key points and observe time
 Move yourself towards the win-win situation
Develop a frame of reference
Clarify the issue being discussed.
Be open during the discussion
Take time to establish enduring solutions
Be positive in your decisions
 Be Positive
Encouraging
Immediacy
Relief
 Accommodating, Compromise, Collaborating – Win-Win
Values Associated with Negotiations
 Cooperation
 Tolerance
 Respect
 Empathy
 Honesty
 Responsibility
Topic 9: Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
This topic is related to the earlier topics of negotiation, coping with emotion and
stress, and interpersonal relations. We have already stated that conflicts are common
in the life of every human being. Here, we look at how people can resolve conflicts as
they arise. First, we will look at the definition of conflict, followed by its causes and
consequences. We will also identify the types of conflicts and ways of dealing with
such conflicts. This lesson will also highlight the skills needed to manage conflicts
effectively.
Definition of Conflict
Cambridge Dictionary defines conflict as “an active disagreement between people
with opposing opinions or principles.” It can also be considered as an escalated
argument or disagreement about an important issue between two or more people.
Another definition of conflict is the clash of interest between two or more parties.
Conflict can be personal, racial, political, or class. Interactions between members of a
group may cause conflicts along certain lines, dividing the group into factions
according to their differences in opinion.

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Causes of Conflict
Conflicts often occur at home, school or work, and they take many different forms. In
a multicultural work environment, for example, people may have diverse views based
on their geographical backgrounds, social classes, language, age, or culture. When
working with other people, you should always take great care when managing
conflicts which are bound to interfere with teamwork. The first and most important
step of conflict resolution and management is to identify the sources of conflicts.
Here we have identified several causes of conflict:
 Ambiguous and/or missing information: During communication, some information
may be incomplete or ambiguous, causing misrepresentation, misunderstanding,
and conflict.
 Selfishness of an individual who attempts to maximize their own interest without
concern for the interests of others. This prevents, blocks, or interferes with the
actions of others.
 Uncertainties, scarcity of resources, and unlimited human wants. Sometimes people
disagree as they pursue resources during times of uncertainty.
 Differences in personalities of individuals: people may disagree as a result of
differences in personality and character traits. People have different perceptions
and expectations based on their individual attitudes and interests.
 Discrimination: some forms of discrimination such as discrimination against
women, racial discrimination, and ethnic disparities may lead to conflict among
various groups. For instance, there is conflict between some whites and blacks in
western countries due to racial discrimination in society. Conflict between the rich
and the poor is also caused by disparities in resource allocation.
 Lack of cooperation: a toxic organizational environment where people don’t comply
with the rules may lead to lack of cooperation and conflicts.
 Autocratic management styles: autocracy occurs when the top leaders in society,
institutions or organizations enforce decisions, rules and policies without
consulting their followers. If the followers don’t agree with such autocratic
decisions, conflicts usually ensue.
 Disruptions of workflow, work schedule, and routine tasks in the workplace may
cause conflicts among conflicts or between workers and supervisors.

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Consequences of Conflicts
Conflicts occur in circumstances where the goals and interests of people are not
compatible, and one party or group blocks others from achieving their goals.
Conflict is inevitable in the workplace, at least to some level, because the society or
organization has multiple overarching goals and interests.
Some conflicts are good because they push people to improve their performance.
Nevertheless, too much conflict may become a hindrance to work and relationships.
There are both positive and negative effects of conflict in society or in the workplace.
Positive conflict is referred to as functional conflict while negative conflict is called
dysfunctional conflict.
Positive Consequences of Conflict:
The positive consequences of functional conflict include:
 Increased cohesion: Cohesiveness occurs when different groups with competing
interests work together. They can bring in their conflicting ideas and interests, and
use them positively to achieve common goals.
 Improved quality of decisions: in situations of conflicts, individuals usually try to
come up with solutions to their problems. Groups that face conflicts can come
together and evaluate alternative courses of action, which can bring more ideas to
enhance better decisions, creativity, and innovation.
 Development of Leadership Qualities: when conflicts occur, people engage in
discussions and negotiations to find resolutions. In the process, leaders emerge who
can effectively lead the team in making decisions to end the conflict.
 Promoting change: Conflict can enhance change. Differences in opinions and beliefs
may cause discussions that end up causing creative ideas and new ways of doing
things. The new ideas can be an epitome of change, or a shift away from the
traditional and conventional order.
 Increased Productivity: it has been established through research that teams with
manageable levels of conflicts can produce high quality solutions to problems.
When individuals are in conflict, they work harder to find solutions, which often
lead to improved performance and productivity.

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 Reduces strain: when people don’t agree with each other in terms of norms and
values, they can raise their voice and opinions about the issue. As a result, they
release some strain that could have otherwise caused stress.
Negative Consequences of Conflicts
If not managed effectively, conflicts may escalate to unmanageable levels, leading to
negative conflicts. When people disrespect each other and undermine the interests of
others, they cause negative conflicts. The effects of negative conflicts include:
 Mental strain: Excessive conflict may cause tension and frustration among the
conflicting parties. This harms both the individual and the group.
 Dissatisfaction: Too much conflicts may cause antagonism on some members of the
group, leading to loss of motivation. People also become discontented when they
are unable to come into agreement on pertinent issues affective them. They then
become dissatisfied with their jobs, leading to reduced individual organizational
performance.
 Miscommunication: When conflicts occur, people may not speak to each other. Such
communication breakdown may cause poor or limited interactions in the
workplace. The consequence of poor communication is reduced performance as
people stop focusing on common goals and objectives.
 Resignation: People may resign from job or from their social duties if they are not
able to agree with the people they work with. For example, if a teacher does not
agree on anything with the students, they can become so frustrated that they can
quit their job.
 Misperceptions: The perceptions and beliefs of individuals may be distorted by
serious conflicts.
 Unhealthy Competition: Escalated conflicts can cause heated competition among
members of a group. Such competition may hinder progress waste time as people
try to resolve the conflict. Competition may also prevent the group from achieving
common goals and objectives.
 Dropping out of School: Conflicts can cause a student to be frustrated, lose self-
esteem, and possibly drop out of school.
 Drug and Alcohol Abuse: People who are not able to cope with the stress associated
with conflicts may also engage in drug and alcohol abuse as they try to forget the
situation of conflict.
 Committing Suicide: Those who are not able to cope with conflicts may also commit
suicide.
Types of Conflict
There are generally two types of conflicts: intragroup conflict and interpersonal
conflict. The intragroup conflict occurs when a member of group disagrees with the

26. 26
rest of the team. On the other hand an interpersonal conflict occurs when two people
disagree. Other specific types of conflict include:
 Destructive Conflicts: This refers to escalated or unmanaged conflict that has gone
out of control. It can jeopardize relationships and social interactions.
 Constructive conflict: This type of conflict refers to managed struggles that leads to
changes in human relationships, but does not destroy the relationships.
 Content conflict: Conflict that occurs when people disagree on how to address an
issue. This is constructive conflict because it motivates people to discuss and
generate new ideas and solutions.
 Relationship Conflict: Disagreements between individuals, also known as relational
conflicts. They can reduce performance, satisfaction, commitment and loyalty.
 Process Conflict: This occurs when people disagree on how to perform a task –
disagreement on methods and process of doing a job. Process conflict can be
harmful because it interferes with the job, which might not be completed or can be
completed in a substandard way.
 Affective Conflict: This type of conflict occurs as a result of interpersonal
differences and disputes. It leads to suspicion, hostility, and distrust. Thus, it is
deconstructive or negative type of conflict.
 Cognitive conflict: It occurs when people disagree in terms of judgment or
perspectives when performing a task. This is a positive or constructive conflict
which leads to improved decision making and free exchange of information.
Ways of Dealing with Conflict
There are various methods of addressing conflicts before they escalate to
unmanageable levels. The three common methods are:
Fight: In this method, people engage aggressively with each other. This can be done
through words, litigation, or physical assault. It is a war where there is always no
winner or loser. Flight is one of the most damaging responses to conflict. Literally
speaking, the person who suffers the most injuries is the loser; but the fight does not
solve the underlying issues of the conflict.
Flight: in this approach, conflicting parties walk away from the conflict. One of the
actions of people who choose flight is denying everything. In this case, the individual
decides to ignore the conflict as if it never existed. On the other hand, running away
occurs when one of the conflicting parties avoids the other person and does not want
to engage in discussions. This is damaging because the individual may not report to
work as he or she tries to avoid seeing their opponents.
Freeze: This reaction method entails doing nothing at all. They neither run away nor
fight. In this situation, individuals merely choose to disengage in order to please their

27. 27
opponents. This may look like a solution at first, but the conflict remains unresolved
and will continue causing dissatisfaction and discomfort.
Other Methods of Resolving Conflicts:
 Appreciate and accept that a conflict exists which needs to be addressed
 Identify the sources of conflicts
 Evaluate the role of each individual in the conflict – how each party contributes to
the conflict and their role in resolving it.
 Being empathetic and having the willingness and commitment to listen to the
concerns of the other party.
 Be ready to accept and apologize when you are wrong.
 Develop good communication, problem solving and decision making skills.
Skills Necessary for Conflict Resolution
 Empathy: the ability to understand and appreciate the needs of other people, and
putting yourself on the shoes of the other person.
 Seeking Assistance: being able to talk with people about your problems and seeking
their help.
 Decision Making: The ability to take appropriate action given alternative courses of
action.
 Critical Thinking: this is another important skill in conflict resolution. It entails
being able to analyze and evaluate issues objectively to arrive at judgment. This is
necessary in order to develop objective solution to the conflict.
 Assertiveness: individuals should be assertive when discussing a conflicting
situation so that they can clearly articulate their goals and interests.
Institutions that Resolve Conflicts in Society:
 Courts: Places where legal processes of resolving conflicts occur. It is taken as the
last resort to get the judgment of a judge who uses evidence in a litigation process
to pass judgment.
 Religious Institutions: Religions organizations such as churches can use their
religious norms and principles to address conflicts.
 Committees: these are usually common in communities and organizations where a
group of individuals are selected to lead discussions among conflicting parties and
arrive at agreements.
Values Related to Conflict Resolution:
 Co-operation
 Tolerance
 Responsibility
 Peace

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 Humility
Topic 10: Effective Decision Making
Introduction
Everyone is often confronted with situations that require decision making. Sometimes
we must make tough choices in life that have lasting consequences on how personal
lives, relationships, and work. Therefore, it is important to learn effective ways of
making decisions and how to acquire good decision making skills. This lesson will
define what decision making is, its processes, and how to acquire the skill.
Decision making is defined as the process of choosing a course of action by
identifying the issue, gathering information, and evaluating the alternative choices.
Using a scientific procedure to make decisions is essential because it helps a person to
take deliberate and thoughtful action. When a decision is critically thought about
before being implemented, it reduces the chances of failure and maximizes the
outcome.
Situations that Require Decision Making
Decision making is generally required when making choices of any kind, as long as
there are alternative solutions. For example, you may need decision making even
when choosing the type of shoes to wear to a function. However, there are situations
that require tougher choices than others due to the nature of the problem being
handled.
The following is a list of situations that may require decision making:
 Identity issues/developmental crises: sometimes you may reach a point in life where
you start exploring yourself. Identity crises may occur when you start realigning
yourself with certain groups such as gender or family.
 Drug and alcohol use: Young people often face tough choices when it comes to the
use of alcohol and drugs. While wanting to maintain their peer groups, they
become persuaded to abuse drugs and alcohol in order to belong to the group.
There comes a time when a youthful person has to choose between friendship and
avoiding the use of drugs and alcohol.
 Sexually transmitted diseases: People also have a choice to make in regards to sex and
sexuality. You have to choose the right approach to sexual relationships such as
being faithful to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.

29. 29
 HIV/AIDS: Young people also make decisions regarding the issue of HIV/AIDS.
This includes the best way to avoid the disease such as the use of protection or
abstaining. If you are sexually active, you can decide to use protection or become
faithful to one partner. Otherwise the best decision is to abstain from sex until
marriage.
 Delinquency and Violence: you also need to make the right decisions to avoid
delinquent behavior or engaging in crime. For instance, you can decide to make the
right choice of friends. There is a saying that you are the average of your five best
friends. This is to say that if you have five bad friends, you are number three
among the bad guys. When they fall, you fall along with them.
 Irresponsible Sexual Relationships: You also need to make the right decisions when
choosing partners and engaging in sexual relationships. Irresponsible sexual
behaviors may use to sexually transmitted diseases, early pregnancies, and other
bad situations.
 Unplanned pregnancies: Here you are required to make the right choices and identify
the best ways of avoiding unplanned pregnancies such as abstinence and use of
protection.
Challenges Facing Youth in DecisionMaking
Although decision making skills are essential for a healthy living and career
development, the youth often face multiple challenges as they make lifelong
decisions.
 Unplanned pregnancies: the first challenge that the youth face when making
decisions about sexual relationships is unplanned pregnancy. For example, when
girls decide to fulfill their sexual desires, they might become pregnant before
completing their education. This makes decisions on sexual matters quite
challenging. To avoid this, young people should choose to pursue education and
career dreams first before engaging in sexual issues. If necessary, they should use
protection and/or stick with one partner.
 Peer Pressure: Most young people are not able to make the right decisions due to
peer pressure. Friends can mislead you if are not principled. There comes a time
when someone has to choose between their friends and their dreams.
 Drug Abuse: When someone becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, their sense of
judgment becomes distorted. You are not able to think well and make the right
choices if you are under the influence of alcohol and substances.

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 Being Orphaned: Someone who is raised without parents don’t get the parental
guidance they need to make the right decisions. Parents play a significant role in a
child’s cognitive and behavioral development through social learning. Children can
learn the right way of doing things by imitating their parents or getting parental
love and advice.
 HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases: The youth also face the challenge
of catching serious diseases when they make decisions in life. Deciding to engage
in sexual activities can cause trouble, yet young people have massive sexual urges
as they grow. Trying to fulfill their sexual desires can cause diseases.
 Relationships: Being in a sexual or cordial relationships can sometimes cause
obscurity in decision making. You may not be able to think positively when you
are emotionally attached to someone. For example, a girl who falls in love with a
boy may not control their emotions, and they eventually succumb to pressure and
engage in sexual intercourse. This could lead to early or unplanned pregnancies.
 Career Choices: The youth also face challenges when trying to choose their careers.
You can get into dilemma when trying to choose between two or more courses.
Factors that Influence DecisionMaking
People have different ways of making decisions. Each approach is influenced by
certain factors. Some of the key factors that influence decision making are:
 Personal and social experiences: people can make decisions based on their life
experiences or the experiences they encounter in their cultures and societies. For
example, a person can decide to drink alcohol due to social experiences such as
peer influence when most of the youth in their community are drinking.
 Uniqueness: Each person is unique in their own way. You can decide to do
something according to your own unique beliefs, perspectives, and interests.
 Self-awareness: you can also make decisions according to your level of self-
awareness. You should be able to understand what you need and make choices that
will enable you to achieve your own dreams.
 Economic Factors: Your decisions can also be affected by your economic or
financial position. For instance, if you have more resources you can decide to
marry early because you are ready to provide for the family.

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 Psychological Factors: another important factor that affects decision making is
psychological factors. This includes your level of motivation, learning, beliefs, and
attitudes. For example, some people are more motivated to pursue education than
others. Such people will choose to pursue education first before engaging in
relationship issues.
Steps Involved in Decision-Making
Decision making is a scientific process that involves several steps. To arrive at a
sound decision, an individual needs to follow a specific process guided by facts,
rational thinking, and critical evaluation. Below are the key steps involved in decision
making:
 Step 1: Identification of the Problem
Problem identification is the first step in decision making. The decision maker
identifies a specific problem to solve or a decision to be made. This is a very
important stage in decision making because it enables the individual to define the
nature of the problem clearly. If you don’t understand the problem, how it has
occurred, and its nature, you will not be able to solve the issue. For instance, if you
want to make a decision about drugs and alcohol abuse, you should first understand
what alcohol and drug abuse is and why it is an important issue to be addressed in
society. By understanding the issue clearly, you will be able to solve it more
effectively.
 Step 2: Identify the Source of the Problem
The second step in decision making involves gathering information about the
problem. Once you have defined the problem clearly, you should collect pertinent
information or data related to the issue. Information can be collected through online
research, survey interviews, observations, etc.
 Step 3: Identify Alternative Solutions or Options
In the third step of the decision making process, the decision maker identifies several
alternative choices to make based on the information collected from step 2. Here, you
should identify all possible and viable alternatives. For example, when you are short
of finance you can develop alternatives such as: start a retail shop, look for a job, steal
from your neighbor, or do nothing. Each alternative has merits and demerits, and you
will evaluate these options in the next step.
 Step 4: Evaluate or Weigh the Options
This step involves weighing the options available by establishing the outcomes and
benefits of each option. To weigh the options effectively, you need to use various
tools of analysis and evaluation such as cost-benefit analysis, using statistical tools, or

32. 32
reflecting on the pros and cons of each option. Here, you will analyze and evaluate the
data you have gathered in step 2 to determine benefits and costs of each option.
 Step 5: Select the Best Alternative – Make a Choice
The fifth step of the decision making process involves selecting the alternative with
the best outcome. You need to select an option that maximizes on benefits and
minimizes costs, that is, an option with more benefits than costs compared to all other
alternatives. Here, you will consider the benefits to you in terms of physical, social,
and personal outcomes. Rank all your options, with number 1 being the option with
the highest net outcome (benefits – costs). In our example above, stealing will have
the most costs while doing a business could compete with looking for employment at
the top.
 Step 6: Implement your Chosen Option (take action).
The last step of the decision making process is putting your choice into action. In this
case, you need to take action by doing what your best option says you should do. For
instance, you may have chosen “doing business” as your best option in our scenario.
In this case, you should implement that option by looking for capital and starting to
rent space for the business, then buy stock, and market your business.
Consequences ofNot Making Effective Decisions
Failure to take action or make effective decisions could have grave consequences.
Some of the consequences of not making effective decisions include:
 You may develop poor self-concept – you don’t understand your worth and start
doubting yourself. This way, you won’t achieve your full potential.
 Low Self-Esteem – This is a key psychological effect of failing to make effective
decisions.
 Teenage pregnancy – If you fail to make bold decisions you may lose control of
yourself, and allow other people to take charge of your life. This way you will
allow yourself to be preyed and end up being impregnated earlier than you deserve.
If that happens, you lose focus on your dreams and possibly drop out of school.
 HIV infection: This is another consequence of not being able to make personal
decisions on issues concerning your own sexuality.
 Delinquency: Failure to make decisions could make you to be swayed by friends
and peers, meaning that you can be influenced to commit crime.

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 Truancy: This refers to absenteeism or missing school for no apparent reason. This
is a consequence of being unable to make effective decisions.
Decision-Making Institutions within the Community
There are various communities responsible for decision making in the community.
They include:
 Family
 Schools/Colleges
 Courts
 Peer arbitrators
 Religious bodies
Values Associated with Effective Decision Making
 Honesty
 Integrity
 Peace
 Tolerance
 Responsibility
 Simplicity
Topic 11: Critical Thinking
Meaning of Critical Thinking
Critical thinking refers to the ability of a person to think in a clear and rational way,
and to understand the logical connection between ideas. It entails being able to reason
and make appropriate and objective decisions in life. Critical thinkers often question
common beliefs and ideas rather than accepting them as given.
In life, we often face numerous ideas, some of which are contradictory and
challenging. Thus, it is important to analyze every situation quite critically to make
the best decision. Critical thinking also involves inquiry of the mind, ensuring that
you examine things deeply to make rational decisions.
RiskySituations
There are various risky situations that require critical thinking. They include:
 Peer pressure and influence: The youth might plunge into risky behaviors that will
destroy their lives through peer pressure. One requires to think critically about how
to live and avoid peer influence and risky behaviors.

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 Media influence: There are things that the media presents that look good or
appropriate at the face value – e.g. beauty and sex. However, when one examines
critically, they will realize that such things may not be appropriate.
 Internal conflicts: People also need to consider how they relate with people critically
to avoid conflicts.
 Arguments: When people engage in discussions, they might get into arguments. You
need to think critically when arguing your case to convince people and avoid
problems.
 Educational matters: You also need to think critically about matters to do with
education such as examinations and choice of careers. You should be able to
identify the pros and cons of various courses before choosing your career.
Evaluating ideas or Issues Objectively
Critical thinkers always identify, analyze and evaluate decisions systematically
instead of simply relying in instinct or intuition. Evaluating ideas or issues objectively
involves the following steps:
 Identifying ideas, issues or problems
 Weighing options in terms of ideas and solutions
 Evaluating ideas and identifying the best options
 Selecting appropriate ideas/alternative choices
 Making rational choices.
Consequences of Making Choices before thinking critically
Someone who thinks critically is able to understand the relationship between ideas,
determine the importance and relevance of their ideas, make appropriate and
consistent decisions, minimize errors in judgment, and build strong arguments.
On the other hand, if you do not think critically when making choices you will
encounter the following negative consequences:
 Falling victim of drug and substance abuse
 Increased chances of getting unplanned pregnancies
 Higher chances of early marriages
 Possibility of HIV/AIDS infection
 Physical and psychological abuse
Values Associated with Critical Thinking:
 Tolerance
 Responsibility
 Honesty
 Simplicity
 Humility

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Topic 12: Creative Thinking
Definition of Creative Thinking
Creative thinking refers to the ability to develop a new way of doing something or
solving a problem. Creativity entails coming up with new ideas or applying existing
ideas on new situations. For instance, one needs to think creatively to identify new
ideas on how to resolve conflicts between employees.
Creative thinking includes the following elements: analysis, problem-solving,
communication, organization, and open-mindedness.
Situations that Require Creative Thinking
Most situations in life require creative thinking skills. Some of the common situations
that require creative thinking include:
 Unfamiliar situations: When confronted with unfamiliar situations, you need to
come up with new ideas to deal with such situations.
 Unexpected Situations: There are situations that emerge unexpectedly. We need
creative thinking to handle such situations effectively.
 When solving problems: Good solutions to problems affecting us also require
creative thinking to come up with novel ways of solving problems.
 During creative writing: Writers also require creative thinking in order to create
compelling stories.
 In research and analysis: Research and analysis skills are essential in creative
thinking.
 During communication:When communicating with people you need to think
creatively about the information you would like to pass.
 Sales and marketing: Sales and marketing teams require creative thinking to
develop new ideas on how to improve their sales.
 Leadership: Leaders require creative ideas to make strategic decisions that will
help the organization or institution to achieve its objectives.
Importance of Being Creative
Being creative has several positive outcomes for the creative thinker. Being able to
come up with new ideas helps a person to adjust well with new circumstances and
come up with new ways of making effective decisions or solving problems.
Generally, the importance of being creative can be summed up as follows:
 Minimizing the state or feeling of being stuck.
 Minimizing anxiety

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 Minimizing conflicts
 Minimizing life threatening issues
 Promotes effective relationships.
Consequences ofNot Being Creative
So far, we have learned that creative thinking has significant benefits. So what are the
consequences of not being able to think creatively? If you are not able to think
creatively, you will experience some of the following consequences:
 Emotional overload: If you are not creative, you might be overcome by emotions
 Developing distress: Being unable to think creatively may make you not to solve
your problems effectively, making you more anxious and stressed.
 Getting stuck: Not being creative can also make you get stuck because you will not
be able to make decisions appropriately.
 Becoming sick: You can get diseases such as heart attack if you do not think
creatively about how to address your problems.
 Having poor relationships with others: Lack of creativity also causes poor
relationships because you may not be able to develop good ideas on how to relate
with people.
 Having poor working relationships: You need creative skills to relate well with
others at work.
Values Associatedwith Creative Thinking
 Humility
 Freedom
 Honesty
 Simplicity
 Peace
 Respect
 Tolerance
Topic 13: Problem Solving
Definition of Problem Solving
Problem Solving refers to the process of identifying a problem, alternative solutions,
and choosing the best solution to solve the problem. Everyone faces problems
multiple times in their lives. Each day presents itself with a new problem or challenge
to be solved. This lesson identifies ways of identifying a problem and how to solve
such problems effectively.
Problems that Require Solutions

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The first step in learning about problems is to identify the key problem areas than
need to be addressed. Some of the areas in which people face problems in their
everyday lives include:
 Concerns in the school, e.g. poor performance
 Problems experienced at home
 Peer influence
 Conflicts in relationships
 Business challenges such as lack of capital
 Diseases and injuries
 Political conflicts
 Financial problems
Causes of Problems
The first step in problem solving is always to identify the causes of the problem.
Identifying causes of problems is helps the problem solver to develop relevant
solutions to the problems. Some of the possible causes of problems in one’s life
include:
 Failure to make the right choice
 Inability to make the right decisions
 Peer pressure
 Drug and substance abuse
 Sexual abuse
 Sickness
 Hunger
 Orphanhood
Methods of Solving Problems
The methods and steps of solving problems is pretty much like the steps used in
decision making. In order to live well and achieve one’s dreams, it is necessary to find
solutions to problems as they occur. Here are the most common steps used in solving
problems:
 Identifying the problem
 Gather information to differentiate between facts and opinions
 Identify the root causes of the problem
 Consult all relevant parties when collecting information
 Clearly define/state the problem
 Identify the expectation or standard that has been violated
 Identify the process related to the problem
 Don’t solve problems without having enough data

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 Identify alternative solutions and evaluate each of them
 Evaluate alternative solutions based on the expected outcome or standard
 Evaluate all options objectively and without bias
 Focus on your goals when evaluating alternatives
 Select the best solution that has the most advantages and results
 Think critically when selecting your solution
 State the selected choice clearly
 Make appropriate decisions
 Implement the selected solution
 Make a proper plan to implement your solution
 Gather feedback from multiple stakeholders
 Seek acceptance or consensus among all stakeholders
 Develop ways of measuring and monitoring progress
Values necessary for Solving Problems
 Responsibility
 Honesty
 Kindness
 Love
Topic 14: Leisure
Definition of Leisure
Leisure can be define as a time of freedom when one is freed from doing work. It a
free time caused by the cessation of activities. Another key definition of leisure is the
temporary release from compulsory duties and obligations. Leisure time can be used
for relaxation, social interactions, diversion, and personal development.
For example, when a teacher is free from teaching during holidays he may decide to
spend time with family members at home. A business man may also spend some
leisure time with his family by the beach or inside the park. Other examples of
spending leisure include skating, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling,
playing pool, and watching football.
Leisure can be categorized into active and passive leisure.
Active leisure occurs when someone participates in activities to relieve pressure and
stress during leisure. These activities distract people from formal duties. They may
include recreational activities such as playing tennis. Active leisure promotes a sense
of self and self-esteem.

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Passive leisure occurs when someone is doing nothing such as spending time at home
relaxing with minimal efforts. For example, passive leisure may include watching
television and listening to music. This approach is used by introvert individuals. If a
person is not able to make decisions on their own, they can be easily influenced to use
their leisure time unconstructively.
Effects of Misusing Leisure
Leisure is significantly important when used appropriately for relaxation and social
interactions. However, some young people may misuse their leisure time by engaging
in destructive activities or disruptive behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse.
The failure to use leisure time positively may lead to:
 Drug and substance abuse
 HIV/AIDS infection
 Participation in criminal activities
 Engagement in sexually activities
 Early pregnancies and marriages
 Loss of self-esteem and self-concept
 Diseases associated with poor lifestyle such obesity
Activities for Positive Leisure
Here is a list of positive leisure activities that you may engage in to improve your
health and attitude:
 Ball games e.g. football, athletics, swimming
 Reading
 Singing
 Visiting the sick people
 Doing homework
 Visiting friends
 Helping parents at home
 Revising for exams
Life Skills for Positive Use of Leisure Time
Knowing what we know now about the positives and negatives of leisure, you should
develop certain life skills. Some of the life skills needed in order to use leisure
effectively include:
 Problem solving
 Empathy
 Creative Thinking

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 Assertiveness
 Negotiation
 Critical Thinking
Values Associated with Leisure
 Freedom
 Tolerance
 Humility
 Honesty
Topic 15: Time Management
Definition of Time Management
Time can be defined as a period or duration within which something or an event
happens in life, usually measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months,
and years. Time is a very important resource that cannot be recovered once it has been
lost. Accordingly, it is important for people to organize activities in such a way that
they fit within a given period and utilize their time effectively.
Time management is therefore the process or planning and organizing activities to fit
within a desired timeframe and to ensure that required tasks are completed on time.
The ability to manage time effectively is a desirable skill at work, school and home.
Work Schedule
Planning is an important part of time management, and it starts with a work schedule.
It means identifying the current position and what is desired for the future. It also
entails identifying what someone wants to achieve and how they are going to achieve
it.
The first step in time management is to draw a work schedule that highlights all the
activities that one has to do. Each task is assigned a specific time in a sequence
starting with the most important activities. In this planning stage, a person evaluates
the work they have to determine whether it is achievable within a given period of
time.
A work schedule is also known as a timetable, and it is advisable to be written on a
daily basis to show what one needs to achieve within the day. It is often written in the
form of a diary so that it captures all the required tasks for the day.
Here are some tips on how to write a good work schedule:

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 The work schedule should be flexible – it should give a chance to be changed
according to evolving needs of the user. Does not need to be too rigid.
 A daily work schedule may be different among people even if it involves similar
activities because each person has unique personalities, interests, and attitudes.
 The user should stick to the time stipulated for each task in the time schedule.
 Prioritize your tasks – from the most important to the least important.
 Find a time of the day that most works for you to work on important tasks such as
writing or reading
 Make the time schedule well organized so that you can follow your tasks easily.
Time Management Chart
A time management chart is an important tool used to plan one’s time and review how
well someone has spent their time, preferably within a week. Using this tool will help
you focus on the most important tasks to you and spend your time more efficiently.
Using a time management chart, you can subtract the time you on regular activities
from the total number of hours you have within the week. What you are left with is
your free time and you will choose how to spend it.
At the end of the week, you can look back at your chart and review how you spent
your time. That will help you make positive changes in the coming week.
Benefits of a Time Management Chart
There are several great benefits that one gets from using a time management chart:
 Visibility: the tool helps someone to see a big picture from the visual representation
their time. This makes planning of time more accurate.
 Efficiency: A time management chart helps the user to dissect their activities and
allocate time to each task more efficiently.
 Effectiveness: this tool ensures that work is done on time, making task performance
more effective.
Things that should be included in a time management chart:
 Leisure time
 Working time
 Exercise and games
 Helping the needy
 Meals time
 Cleaning time
 Rest
Importance of Managing Time

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Time management is important in every aspect of life. Everyone benefits from
managing time effectively in whatever they do, be it in school, home or work. Here is
a brief list of the reasons why managing time is important to you and everyone else:
 Focusing on priorities: managing time helps you to focus on priority activities in
whichever environment you work from. For instance, time management can help
you focus on important business activities such as purchasing stock.
 Sense of direction: managing time can also help you develop a sense of direction –
you will know what you have achieved and what you still need to achieve, and how
you are going to achieve it.
 Attain goals and minimize stress: managing time also ensures that you organize
activities to achieve your goals.
 Satisfy others/clients – managing time effectively helps you focus on key activities
that will promote the needs of important people in your life, e.g. customers.
 Create time for everything: managing time is important because it enables you to fix
all activities within your work schedule so that every activity is allocated some
time. In this regard, you can perform all tasks if you plan your time well.
Time Wasters
Time wasters are the things that hinder you from managing your time effectively.
They include:
 Procrastination – pushing what you can do now to another time in the future.
 Interruptions from other people – If someone interferes with your schedule
without appointment.
 Poor or lack of delegation: delegation entails assigning some tasks to other people.
Without delegation, you may not do everything by yourself.
 Talking too long on the phone.
 Lack of priorities. You should prioritize the most important issues or activities to
perform.
 Day dreaming: don’t just sit down and think about the things you wish to achieve.
Take action to achieve those dreams.
 Excessive playing: Too much work without play makes Jack a dull boy, but too
much of something is poisonous. If you spend most of your time playing you will
lose important time that you could have used to perform important tasks.
 Indecisiveness: being unable to make decisions in particular situations can make
you stuck and unable to continue with anything.
 Disorganization: inability to plan and organize yourself well will lead to time
wasting.
 Uncontrolled media influence – e.g. spending too much time on TV.

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 Reading junk literature: reading can be a good way of spending your leisure time,
but too much of it will waste your time.
 Quarreling and fighting will also waste your time which you could have used to
perform productive activities.
Effective Management of Time
In order to manage time effectively, there are certain factors you should consider. For
example, you should look at the environment where you work from. It should be free
of distractors which can affect your time management skills and abilities. Here are a
few ways of managing time effectively:
 Don’t work on several projects at the same time. Complete one project before
going to the next.
 Prioritize your activities and focus on the most important ones first.
 Have a deadline for each project and work towards meeting that deadline to
achieve specific milestones or results.
 Always plan your activities ahead of time to ensure that you have the resources you
need for the task.
 Be disciplined and committed to your work.
Values associated with Time Management
 Honesty
 Simplicity
 Responsibility
Life skills associated with time management
 Assertiveness
 Self-awareness
 Self-esteem
 Communication
 Decision making
Topic 16: Gender Education
Gender education is a contemporary issue that students must learn in order to
understand themselves and their social environments better. We start by first defining
the meaning of gender, which must be differentiated from sex.
Gender is defined as the social, cultural and psychological characteristics that identify
a person as a male or female within a given society. The terms “social”, “cultural” and

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“society” are important in this definition to differentiate the term from the concept of
sex.
Sex refers to the biological characteristics that identify a person as a man or woman,
girl or boy. Sex is concerned with the physical and physiological features such as
genes and chromosomes which influence the physical appearance of a person. The
words “biological”, “physical” and “physiological” are important in this definition to
distinguish the concept of sex from gender.
The main difference between sex and gender is that gender refers to socially
constructed roles and cultural behaviors that identifies male and female people in a
given society while sex refers to physiological and biological attributes of a person.
Therefore, gender education refers to the process of learning or the study of social and
cultural characteristics that identify individuals as males or females in a given society.
Agents that Perpetuate Gender Discrimination
Gender discrimination occurs when people are barred from participating in certain
activities or enjoying certain benefits in society due to their gender. For example,
women may be discriminated in the workplace and prevented from occupying
positions of leadership due to their female gender. Such forms of discrimination are
perpetuated by various factors such as:
 Culture: Different cultures assign roles to specific gender. For example, in African
culture women are assigned home activities and household chores such as child
bearing, and this prevents them from performing political and economic activities
in society.
 Stereotyping: This refers to society’s beliefs and attitudes based on traditions rather
than realities. They cause discrimination against people based on their gender and
other cultural factors.
 Poverty: Because women are traditionally discriminated in political and social
positions, they lack the resources to improve, and become poorer. Poverty increases
gender discrimination.
 Illiteracy: Lack of education also prevents women from achieving top leadership
positions and performing economic activities.
Gender Stereotyping
Gender stereotyping occurs when men and women are assigned certain characteristics
in society based on cultural beliefs, norms and attitudes of that society. Examples of
gender stereotypes include:

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Female Stereotype Male Stereotype
Gentle Rough
Caring Individualistic
Physically weak Physically strong
Less intellectual More intellectual
Submissive Assertive
Cannot lead Are leaders
Household subordinates Household leaders
Gossip Discuss Issues
Cannot make decisions Decision makers
Feminine versus Masculine stereotypes
Masculine people… Feminine people…
Are in control Are emotionally sensitive
Are unemotional Are vulnerable
Are dominant Submit to men
Are sexually active Are dependent
Can have many partners Should be faithful to their husbands
Be the breadwinner Meet the needs of others before theirs
Take careers in mathematics & sciences Don’t pursue science and mathematics
Effects of Gender on an Individual Life

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The social construction of gender and gender roles can have significant impact on a
person’s psychological and emotional wellbeing. Some of the key effects of gender on
a person’s life include:
 Poor self-concept
 Discrimination
 Indecisiveness
 Illiteracy
 Low self-esteem
Effects of Stereotypes on Relationships
 Stereotypes may lead to violence, for example men can beat their wives when they
fail to be submissive or disagree with their decisions.
 Disagreement when the women is earning and the man is not earning because
stereotypically men are expected to earn more than women. This can cause
breakages in marriage.
 Rape: Women may be viewed as sex objects and when they are not ready for
sexual intercourse they may be raped by men who use force to meet their sexual
desires.
 Stereotypes on the roles of women can lead to discrimination in the workplace.
 Gender stereotypes can also cause harassment – both physical and sexual –
especially on women.
Strategies to Eliminate Gender Discrimination
In every liberal and progressive society, eradication of gender discrimination is
always a priority. Here are a few strategies that can be used to eliminate gender
discrimination despite significant challenges:
 Individuals in society should be treated equally regardless of their gender in order
to enhance a gender friendly environment.
 Creating gender-friendly work environment and careers
 Learners should be encouraged to concentrate in all subject areas regardless of their
gender to dispel the stereotype that women are not good in sciences.
 All learners should engage in different leisure and sports activities without
discrimination.
 Assigning equal duties, roles and responsibilities to both boys and girls
 Providing guiding and counselling to young people on sexual behaviors, drug and
alcohol abuse, and responsible adulthood.
 Using data to study trends of dropouts and repetition in school based on gender in
order to identify and address gender bias.

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 Encouraging parents and members of the community to develop positive attitudes
towards equal education of both boys and girls
 Encouraging girls to go to school even after becoming pregnant to continue with
education
Values Associated with Gender Discrimination
 Tolerance
 Simplicity
 Respect
 Love
 Unity
 Humility
 Honesty
Topic 17: Drug and Substance Abuse
Definition of Terms
Substance
A substance is an element such as alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs that
may alter the mood of a person when ingested into the body. These substances can be
legal (such as alcohol) or illegal (such as bhang). Substance abuse is therefore the use
of mood-altering substances in a harmful way.
Drug
A drug can be defined as a substance, which may be chemical, synthetic or natural,
which when taken in by a living organism may modify or affect one or more of its
functions
Drug Misuse
Drug misuse is considered to be the misuse of medicine and incorrect use of drugs or
medicines with the intention of causing body changes. It can also be said to be taking
of medicine/drugs without the doctor’s prescription.
Commonly Abused Drugs and Substances
The most commonly abused substances are alcohol and tobacco. They are in fact
termed as gateway substances to other drugs.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol includes wine, spirits, beer, “busaa”, “muratina”, “mnazi”, “changaa” and
others such as “kumi kumi” “machozi” etc). Alcohol is considered a depressant which
slows and lowers the functions of the brain, e.g. thinking, concentration, and
recognition, making decisions and initiating reasoned actions. The effect of alcohol on

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the brain make people feel relaxed, stop worrying about what other people think of
them, and have a good time.
The initial effect of alcohol makes one feel stimulated, become talkative and more
active. As some continue taking more alcohol, mood and social behavior changes,
some people become depressed and remorseful; others become belligerent (become
abusive or violent)
Depressive drunks may slow down, stumble, loudly confess their sins and failures and
slur in words. The Amoral drunks may pick up quarrels and fights and other reckless
behaviors. When they fall asleep they wake up with a hangover which includes
fatigue, headache and nausea. They may also feel restlessness during the day and this
can affect their productivity
2. Tobacco
Tobacco contains 4,000 different chemicals many of which are harmful. Nicotine,
carbon monoxide and tar are the three main chemicals that affect the human body and
cause diseases. Tobacco can be smoked, snorted or chewed.
Effects of Tobacco
The tar in the cigarette is deposited in the lungs causing lung damage and even lung
cancer. Carbon monoxide present in cigarettes also affects the chemical activity of the
heart, which encourages deposits on the walls of the arteries leading to blockage that
may cause blood circulation problems.
For pregnant women this reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the baby during
pregnancy. Smoking can also cause spontaneous abortion and other complications
during pregnancy, low birth weight babies and stillbirths as well as prenatal mortality
in women.
Smoking also leads to increased incidences of severe coughing, sneezing and
shortness of breath on exertion. Peptic ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, cancer of
the mouth, nose, throat, esophagus, pancreas, bladder, cervix and leukemia are other
diseases caused by smoking.
Economically, although smoking contributes to a country’s revenue, it eats into the
family budget. It is also very costly in the treatment of diseases associated with
smoking.
3. Cannabis Sativa

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It is also known as Bang, Marijuana (street names – grass, weed, pot, jive, reeter, and
ganja. This drug is rolled into cigarette and smoked; and can also be chewed. It can
also be processed into more potent form known as hashish.
Effects of Marijuana
Some young people like to use marijuana because it makes them feel “high”, but its
negative effects are detrimental. Here are some of the common negative effects of
Marijuana:
 It causes memory loss and learning difficulties
 It reduces a person’s thinking and problem solving abilities
 Leads to the loss of mental coordination
 Increased anxiety, panic attacks, and heartbeat.
 Can lead people to make stupid mistakes at work
 It can also cause people to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors and the spread of
sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS
 Leads to the abuse of other drugs
 It causes psychotic behaviors and confusion
4. Glue
Health Risks of Glue
Sniffing Glue can cause:
 Vomiting, nausea, collapsing, and heart diseases.
 It may lead to death by flooding the lungs.
 Sometimes it can lead to suffocation
 Glue can affect the senses, making someone to feel high and cause accidents
 Persistent use of glue may cause damage to the brain, kidneys or liver.
Effects of Glue
 Users of glue always feel dizzy, giggly, dreamy and thick-headed.
 Hallucinations
 Intoxication
 Addiction
5. Khat/Miraa – This is a stimulant
Causes of drug and substance Abuse
People engage in drug and substance abuse for the following reasons:
 The desire or pressure to perform well in examinations.
 Academic overload or excessive work

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 Family issues such as shaky backgrounds and feeling of rejection
 Poverty
 Curiosity
 Peer influence
 Boredom
 The need to escape from a situation or problem at work or home
 Poor parenting or lack of parental modeling – leading to loss of moral behavior.
 Media influence
 Socioeconomic conditions and background
 Religious and cultural influence
Signs and Symptoms of Drug and Substance Abuse
Physical Signs
 Staggering walk and slurred speech
 Lack of coordination in body movement, drowsiness,
 Blurred vision, bloodshot eyes, watery eyes, and sores around the mouth.
 General poor health
 Dry mouth and persistent coughing
 Emergence of gangster-like behaviors such as haircut and untidiness.
 Gathering in groups in isolated places
Psychosocial Signs
 Withdrawing from family members and friends
 Being involved with bad company or people of suspicious character
 Mood swings – violence, excessive aggressiveness and excitement
 Impaired judgment and confusion during conversations
 Behavioral changes
 Personality changes
 Truancy and refusal to go to school
 Despair and loss of interest in life
 Mental illness, delirium, and hallucinations.
 Lack of sleep
Effects of Drug and Substance Abuse
 Damage to the cardiovascular system including the heart – causing heart diseases
and heart failure
 Drugs damage the lungs and the entire respiratory system when smoked. They
cause diseases such as lung cancer and asthma.
 Damaging the kidney and the liver
 They may also cause damage and decay to the stomach and the intestines.
 Impaired mental and cognitive function

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 Changes in memory and brain connections
 Death of brain cells – causing brain damage
 Drug and alcohol abusers experience mood disorders such as depression and
anxiety disorders.
 People who abuse drugs may experience distorted sense of judgment and distorted
behaviors, and they might do things they would otherwise not have done. This puts
them in trouble like going to prison or damaging relationships.
Stages of Drug and Substance Abuse
Drug Abuse goes through the following stages:
Stage 1: Tolerance
A person starts abusing drugs for the first time and more into habitual use where the
drug takes the central stage of hi/her life. This repeated use leads to changes in the
brain and nervous system so that the user needs more of the drug to get the expected
effect
Stage 2: Dependence
The body of the drug abuser demands that he takes more drugs. The abuser is noe in
the stage of psychic or physical compulsive desire to continually use the drug, either
to experience the desired effects or avoid the consequences of withdrawal. The
suffering from withdrawal is like an emotional prison trapping the drug abuser.
Stage 3: Addiction
The user is now a victim of drugs and cannot help himself or herself. He/she has now
developed physical and psychological need for the drug for the body to function
normally. This may lead to damage of vital organs in the body such as lungs, liver,
central nervous system etc. and the work output may deteriorate
The user lives in denial and has little concern for future life. The use may manipulate
other people to get what he/she wants so as to maintain the habit.
Relationship between Substance Abuse and HIV & AIDS
 Sharing of needles by substance abusers can lead to HIV infection and AIDS
 Substance abusers stand a high risk of spreading HIV &AIDS through sexual
intercourse
 Substance use is known to impair a person’s judgment and for this reason the
person may expose himself/herself to the virus
 The uncontrollable properties of psychoactive substances lead to sexual and other
high risk behaviors that individuals might otherwise avoid.

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Management of Drug and Substance Abuse
Detoxification Process
This is getting the drug out of the person’s system and seeing him/her through the
withdraw system, where drugs dependency starts.
Counselling
Characteristics of clients who are motivated to change
 Accept the diagnosis given
 Uncomfortable about the behavior
 Talk about change willingly
 Agree with the counselor
 Follow the course of action
 They will start, continue and try to sustain change
NB: The counselor’s role is to motivate the client and affirm any small achievement.
Effective Motivation Strategy
Motivation is a state of readiness or eagerness to change, which may fluctuate from
one time situation to another. This stage is one that can be influenced.
Prochaska & Diclemente developed a wheel of change model that shows the stages
through which clients pass in course of changing a problem. These include:
Pre-contemplation
 A person is not considering change, has not contemplated having a problem or
needing to make a change. People are very defensive here
 People seldom present themselves for treatment but they are made under coercion
 They need information and feedback to raise awareness about the problem and the
possibility of change.
Contemplation
 Awareness is already raised but the client considers change and rejects it. They are
ambivalent
 When they talk about self, they go back and forth between reasons for concern and
justification for unconcern (caused by pathological personality traits or defense
mechanisms)
 The counselor task at this stage is to help tip the balance in favor for change
 People come for consultation in the contemplation stage. As a counselor practice
motivational interviewing.