Life Skills and Leadership Manual - Peace Corps

Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 3, Session 4: Setting Priorities, Managing Time | Page 59 of 68

A.) “Suppose you were going to take a math intelligence test.

1. If I told you that for every wrong answer you would have to pay me a dollar (or equivalent in
   local currency), would you take the test?


2. If I told you that for every correct answer you would be paid a dollar, would you take the
   test?


3. If I told you that by passing the test you would qualify for a university scholarship in a year,
   would you take the test?”
   Ask which of these choices were for reasons outside of oneself (1 is like a punishment; 2 is like a
   reward) and which were for personal reasons (3 relates to personal meaning and purpose).

B.) “Suppose we were walking in the street and you found a wallet with money in it.

1. If I told you that witnesses saw you find it and might tell the police that you had it, would
   you keep it?


2. If I told you the owner would give you a handsome reward, would you keep it?


3. If I told you that it belonged to a poor person who really needs the money, would you keep
   it?”
   Ask which of these choices were for reasons outside of oneself (1 is the fear of getting caught; 2 is for a
   reward) and which were for personal reasons (3 is relates to personal meaning and purpose).

C.) “Suppose you were going on a youth club field trip for two hours by bus.

1. If I told you that you must sit between two people you don’t like, would you want to go?


2. If I told you that you could have an extra lunch if you sat between two people you don’t like,
   would you want to go?


3. If I told you that you could sit anywhere you wanted and you would have a regular lunch,
   would you want to go?”
   Ask which of these choices were for reasons outside of oneself (1 might be considered a punishment if
   you had done something “wrong” or it may just be an unpleasant situation you want to avoid; 2 is a
   bribe, similar to a reward) and which were for personal reasons (3 relates to the ability to have some
   choice and control even in a difficult situation).

D.) “Suppose you were going to make a public presentation in front of a group of strangers.

1. If I told you that you would have to juggle like a clown, would you do it?


2. If I told you that you would have to sing a song, would you do it?


3. If I told you that you would be able to tell them about any subject you wished, would you do
   it?”
   Ask which of these choices were for reasons outside of oneself and which were for personal reasons.
   (These all connect more closely to personal reasons. 1 and 2 relate to ability. You would do either of
   them if you had practiced and felt competent. 3 relates to ability but also to choice. You would be
   more willing to do it if you could choose to talk about something you knew well.)

E.) “Suppose I asked you and your friends to plan a party.

1. If I told you where you could have it, when it would be, how much money to spend, who you
   could invite, and the theme of the party, would you want to plan it?


2. If I told you how much money you could spend and I let you make all the other decisions,
   would you want to plan it?”