Life Skills and Leadership Manual - Peace Corps

Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 2, Session 7: Looking at Conflict | Page 108 of 127

III. Practice (20 minutes)

Materials:
Flip chart 1: Interests and Positions

A. Interests and Positions
Participants demonstrate their ability to distinguish between an interest and a position.

1. Show Flip chart 1: Interests and Positions, set up the activity, and get participants ready to move. Say:

“I’m going to share a situation. Then together we are going identify the interests and positions. If

you think the statement I make is an interest, jump to your feet. If you think it’s a position, sit on the

floor with your legs crossed.”

Note: Have participants practice standing up and then dropping safely to the floor in a cross-legged, seated position.

“Remember, an interest is what the person really cares about deep down. A position is what the

person thinks must or ought to happen. Here are the statements”:

2. Tell the following:

“A young man I know wants to attend a local technical school to become an electrician but his father

doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Instead of arguing about it, the father and son have asked us to help

them think about it. I’ll make a statement that could come from either the young man or his father. By

standing or sitting, you will help them figure out if each statement is an interest or a position. I’ll pause

after each statement so you can stand up or sit down. You don’t all have to agree. Some of you might

be standing while others are sitting.

“You should not move away from home to attend a trade school. (Position)

I want to learn how to do meaningful work. (Interest)

You think I ought to stay home to take care of my younger brother. (Position)

I am afraid you won’t be safe living in the city. (Interest)

I want to try living on my own. (Interest)

You must stay here and help me with the family business. (Position)

I want to be able to earn more money. (Interest)

I should be the one to decide what to do with my life.” (Position)

3. Discuss the activity by asking:

“Did we identify more interests or more positions?

What are some words that might offer clues to determine if something is a position or

interest? (Possible answers: Positions sometimes indicated by “should/should not,”

“ought/ought not” “must/must not”; interests sometimes indicated by “want/don’t want,”

“need/ don’t need,” “fear/afraid,” “important/not important.”)