Pros and cons, 2.0

Strengthening pupils' capacity to appraise their options and consider a variety of alternatives and potential outcomes leads to better, less impulsive choices when handling conflicts. Filling out a decision matrix helps students demonstrate empathic thinking by offering a framework for them to consider the costs and rewards of their actions. Students can use a simple point system to analyze options and evaluate the impact (pros and cons) on themselves and others. Positive numbers represent pros, while negative numbers represent disadvantages.

For example, a student may have to choose between tormenting a classmate and being an ally to the victim or participating in the bullying. A course of action scores zero points if the student cannot envision any positive results. The student next considers the various negative effects of the action, such as damaged feelings or punitive consequences for anybody involved, and deducts one point for each. While an actual decision matrix is not always available on the playground, once mastered, the procedure can be utilized rapidly to examine the possibilities in a prospective disagreement.