1.3 Choice making - National Disability Services... [Choice making] is the power or opportunity of...

Workbook1.3PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

Choicemaking–cross-culturaldifferencesandwhatcanwelearnfromthem?July2016

futures UPFRONT

ThisworkbookhasbeendevelopedforNationalDisabilityServicesby:BarbelWinter,ManagingDirector,futuresUpfrontandMariaKatrivesis,ConsultantandTrainerFirstpublished(July2016)©futuresUpfrontFormoreinformationandforpermissiontoreproducepleasecontact:futuresUpfrontemail:[email protected]:www.futuresupfront.com.au ProducedbyNDSNSWLevel18,1CastlereaghStSydney,NSW2000FundedbyNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices.©ThispublicationiscopyrightAllrightsreserved.ExceptasprovidedintheCopyrightAct1968(Commonwealth),nouseofthiswork,whichiswithintheexclusiverightofthecopyrightowners,maybemade.ContactNDS0292563100ndsnsw@nds.org.auwww.nds.org.auAboutNationalDisabilityServicesNationalDisabilityServicesisthepeakbodyfornon-governmentdisabilityservices.Itspurposeistopromotequalityserviceprovisionandlifeopportunitiesforpeoplewithdisability.NDS’sAustralia-widemembershipincludesmorethan1000non-governmentorganisations,whichsupportpeoplewithallformsofdisability.NDSprovidesinformationandnetworkingopportunitiestoitsmembersandpolicyadvicetostate,territoryandfederalgovernments.

Table of Contents

1. Preface 21.1 Howtousethisworkbook 21.2 Whatisthisworkbookabout: 31.3 Outcome: 31.4 Whoisthisworkbookfor: 31.5 Howlongwillittaketocomplete: 3

2. The Workbook 42.1 Introduction 42.2 WhatisChoiceMaking? 5

2.2.1 ChoiceMaking–adefinitionandsomemore 52.2.2 Decisionmakingandsupporteddecisionmaking 5

2.3 Choiceandculturaldifference 62.3.1 Choiceandcontrolmeansabetterlife 82.3.2 Doesmorechoicemeanmorewell-being? 92.3.3 Ischoicemakingsomethingwelearn? 102.3.4 Doweknowwhatwewant(whenasked)? 122.3.5 Aremorechoicesbetterforyou? 132.3.6 Ismakingchoiceanexpressionofourindividualityoraboutcreatingharmonyandconnectionswithothers? 142.3.7 Whattodowithallofthat? 14

3. Conclusion 16

Workbook1.3:ChoiceMaking

©futuresUpfront|2016|PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

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1. Preface

ThisworkbookispartofaseriesofresourcesforthedisabilityservicessectordesignedbyfuturesUpfrontforNDSwithfundingprovidedbytheNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices;Ageing,DisabilityandHomeCare.

1.IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability

1.1Empathy–apracticetoconnectacrosscultures

1.2Activelistening–unconditionalpositiveregardacrosscultures

1.3Choicemaking–cross-culturaldifferencesandwhatcanwelearnfromthem

1.4ReflectivePractice–whydifferentpointsofviewmatter

1.5Workingeffectivelywithinterpreters

2.OrganisationalPractices–buildingaculturallyresponsiveorganisation

2.1Terminologyanddata–aguidetounderstandingculturaldiversityanddisability

2.2Makingthebusinesscase–whydiversityisgoodforbusiness

2.3Aculturallyresponsivepersoncentredorganisation–keyelements

2.4Leadingtowardsculturalresponsiveness–apracticalguideformanagers,teamleadersandcoaches

2.5Buildingadiverseworkforce–practicalstrategies

2.6Valuingbilingualworkers–strategiestorecruit,trainandretain

3.CommunityEngagement–workingalongsidediversecommunities

3.11Community@atime–culturallyresponsivecommunityengagementprinciplesandelements

3.2MakingLinks–networkingwithCALDCommunities

3.3Crossculturalstorybasedmarketing–1story@atime

Thisworkbookispartofthe“IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”series.

1.1 How to use this workbook? Thisworkbookcanbeusedinmanydifferentways,including:

´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogrambyanindividual



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´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogramforagroup

´ Aspartofformaltrainingorganisedbyanorganisation

´ Aspartofcoachingandmentoring.

Thisworkbookincludesexercisesandopportunitiesforreflections(whenworkingbyyourself)ordiscussions(whenworkingwithothers).

Thereisplentyofroominyourworkbooktotakenotesandmakecomments.

1.2 What is this workbook about? ThisworkbookisdesignedtohelpyouunderstandtheimportanceofchoiceandchoicemakingasacriticalelementindeliveringpersoncentredsupportsandservicestopeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability.

Werecommendyoualsousetheotherworkbooksinthe“IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”series.

1.3 Outcomes Attheendoftheworkbookyouwill:

´ Beabletothinkmoredeeplyaboutchoiceandchoicemaking

´ Useyourlearningtoassistpeoplemoreeffectivelyinmakingchoices

´ Understandsomeofthedifferencesacrossculturesinrelationtochoiceandchoicemaking

1.4 Who is this workbook for? ´ Peopleinterestedinimprovingtheirculturallyresponsiveperson

centredpractice

´ Peoplewhowanttostrengthentheirabilitytofacilitatechoiceandchoicemaking

´ Peoplewhowanttoknowmoreaboutchoicesandwhatwecanlearnfromdifferentculturalpractices

1.5 How long will it take to complete? Thisworkbookshouldtakeabout45minutestoworkthrough.Ifyouwatchallthevideositmighttakeyouaround90minutes



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2. The Workbook

2.1 Introduction ‘Choiceandcontrol’isseenasoneofthecornerstonesofthenewwayofdeliveringdisability(andother)services.Theideaisthatpeoplewithdisabilityareatthecentreexercisingchoiceandtakingcontrol.ThisisseenprettymuchuniversallyasoneofthestepstowardsfulfillingtheintentionsoftheUNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities(UNCRPD).

TheUNConventionmentionschoiceseveraltimes,includingasageneralprincipleinArticle3:

“TheprinciplesofthepresentConventionshallbe:

Respectforinherentdignity,individualautonomyincludingthefreedomtomakeone’sownchoices,andindependenceofpersons;”1

Reflections

Canyouthinkaboutthelasttimeyoumadeachoice?Howdidyoufeelaboutyourabilitytochoose?Whatmakeschoicemakingeasyorhardforyou?

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1UNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities,http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml



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2.2 What is Choice Making? Beforethinkingaboutchoicemakinganddifferencesacrosscultures,let’sbeginwithadefinition,thenexplorethedifferencebetweendecisionsandchoicesandfinally,thinkaboutsupporteddecisionmaking,whichisparticularlyrelevantinourcontext,

2.2.1 ChoiceMaking–adefinitionandsomemore

“[Choicemaking]isthepoweroropportunityofmakingaselection”2

Okthatwaswaytooeasy.Whataboutchoicemakingassomethingwedo?

“Choice-makingisaninterventionstrategythatcanreduceproblembehaviours,increasemotivationanddeveloppersonalfreedom.”

Or,ifwethinkaboutchoicemakingasaprocess,thereareafewelementstoconsider:

´ Preferences:choicesareaboutourlikesanddislikes(e.g.myfavouriteicecreamisstrawberry)

´ Choicemakingwithinlimitations:choiceshappenwithinconstraints(e.g.strawberryicecreamisnotavailable,soIchoosevanilla.)

´ Autonomy:choicesareanexpressionofourindividuality(e.g.thefactthatIchoosevanillasayssomethingaboutmeandhowIexpressmyindividuality)

2.2.2 Decisionmakingandsupporteddecisionmaking

Somepeopletalkaboutchoicemaking,whileotherstalkaboutdecisionmaking.Inthedisabilitysectorweusebothterms.Wemostlyusethetermdecisionmakinginthecontextofsupporteddecisionmaking.

Thedifferencebetweenchoiceanddecisionmakingcanbeexplainedas:

“Withdecision,itismoreofaprocessorientation,meaningwearegoingthroughanalysisandstepstoeliminate(orcutoff)options.

Withchoice,itismoreofamindsetapproach,meaningwehaveaperceptionofwhattherightorwrongchoicemaybe.”3

Thissuggeststhatifwearethinkingofchoiceandchoicemakingasamindset,ratherthansimplyaprocess,itmakessensethatthismindsetmightbeshapedbyourexperiences,perceptions,culturesandmore.

2http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choicemaking3https://www.thindifference.com/2012/06/decisions-vs-choices-is-there-a-distinction/



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Givenitsimportanceinworkingwithpeoplewithcognitivedisability,wemustpaysomeattentiontotheideaofsupporteddecisionmaking4,whichis:

“..aprocessofassistingapersonwithdisabilitytomaketheirowndecisions,sotheycandevelopandpursuetheirowngoals,makechoicesabouttheirlifeandexercisesomecontroloverthethingsthatareimportanttothem”

Thecoreprinciplesofsupporteddecisionmakingoutlinedintheabovedocumentare:

´ Everypersoncanexpresstheirwillandpreference

´ Apersonwithdisabilityhastherighttomakedecisions

´ Apersonwithdisabilitycanexpecttohaveaccesstoappropriatesupporttomakedecisions

SupporteddecisionmakingisgroundedintheUNConventionontheRightsofPersonswithDisabilities,especiallyArticle12:Equalrecognitionbeforethelaw.

Video

Oneofthemostexcellentandaccessibleresourcesintheareaofdecisionmakingisthevideo‘Decisions,Decisions’bySpeakoutAdvocacyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmWO3E1kJT4

Thinkingaboutthedescriptionabove,itappearsthatwhilesupporteddecisionmakingisaprocess,awayofworkingthatcanbeeasilyappliedtochoicemaking.

2.3 Choice and cultural difference

Thefollowingpointsaboutthenatureofchoice,howwechooseandhowchoicemakingmightbelinkedtoourculturearemostlybasedontheworkofafewkeyacademicsandwriters.

4ADHC(March2016):SupportedDecisionMaking-FactsheetNo.1;http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/inclusion_and_participation/supported-decision-making



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Videos

LuckilyforustherearealsosomeTEDtalksbythoseacademicsandwritersforthoseofuswholiketowatchaswellasread:

´ MalcolmGladwell:“Choice,HappinessandSpaghettiSauce”onhttps://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce

´ BarrySchwartz:“TheParadoxofChoice”onhttps://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice

´ SheenaIyengar:“TheArtofChoosing”onhttps://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing

“Howtomakechoosingeasier”on

https://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_choosing_what_to_choose

Throughoutthisworkbook,youwillalsofindreferencestobooksandotherresourcesforyoutofollowup,ifthisworkbookandtheideasinithavesparkedyourinterest.

Reflections

Doyouthinkthathowyouchooseisinfluencedbyyourculture?Haveyounoticedyourattitudesandapproachestochoicebeingdifferentfromthepeoplearoundyou,orhaveyouseendifferentpeoplerespondtothesamechoicedifferently?

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Ok,wehavetoadmitoneoftheabovereflectionquestionsisabitsneakyandweapologise,buthopefullywecanuseittomakeapoint.Sopleasebearwithus.

Thefirstquestionweaskedwas:“Doyouthinkthathowyouchooseisinfluencedbyyourculture?”Ifyourfirstresponsetothisquestionwas“Whatdoesthatmean?Idon’treallyunderstandthequestion?Whatdotheymeanbymyculture?”youwouldberight.

Unlesswehavethoughtaboutthisalot,orweareamemberofaminorityculturewherechoiceandchoicemakingisreallydifferentbetweenourcultureandthecultureofthemajority,ormaybewehavetravelledalotorlivedinanotherculturewithaverydifferentrelationshiptochoice,thequestionsbasicallyisabitsilly.That’sbecausemostlywedon’tseeourrelationshiptoanythingwebelieveorthinkasbeingshapedbyourculture,especiallyifwearepartofthemajorityculture.It’sjustsomethingwedo.Itisordinarytous,average.

Itmaybeusefultorememberthatourexperienceofcultureisabitlikebeingafishinwater.Imaginebeingthefish;youdon’tthinkaboutwater.Waterjustis.Well,notwhenthefishgetspulledoutofthewater.Thenwaterbecomesreally,reallyimportant.Cultureforhumans,isabitlikewaterforfish.Youdon’tpayanyattentionuntilyougetpulledoutofit.

Toillustratethepoint,hereisaresponsefromawomanfromIndianbackgroundcalledShenaIyengar,awomanwithvisionimpairmentwholivesintheUSandwhodoeslotsofresearchonchoice(therewillbemorefromherlater):

“BecauseIwasgoingbackandforthbetweenAmericancultureandSikhculture,therewasconstantstrugglebetweenwhetheryouaresupposedtothinkofyourchoicesintermsofdutyfulfillmentorpersonalpreferencefulfilment.”5

Thesecondandthirdquestionsweaskedyouaboveinthereflectionsection,wereprobablysomewhateasiertothinkabout.It’seasierforallofustoseehowpeoplearoundusaredifferentfromourselvesandsometimesweattributethisdifferencetotheirculture.

2.3.1 Choiceandcontrolmeansabetterlife

InAustralia(andmaybeintheWesternworldgenerally)muchofourcurrentrelationshipwithchoiceandchoicemakinglookslikethisformula:

5NewAmericamedia:Decisions,decisions:theCultureandPsychologyofChoice.http://newamericamedia.org/2010/12/the-culture-of-choice.php



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More choice + control = A better life

Theresearchersinthisfieldseemtoagreethatallhumansvaluesomelevelofchoiceandchoicemaking.Therecanbenodoubtthatmorechoiceandcontrolwillbeagoodthingforpeoplewithdisability,manyofwhomhavehadsolittlechoiceandcontrolinkeyareasoftheirlivesthatanyincreaseinthisareaisanimprovement.

However,makingchoicesiscomplex.Giventhatitissuchacentral‘theme’ofpersoncentredthinkingandcriticalindeliveringonthepromisesofindividualisedfundingassistingpeoplehaveabetterlife,itishelpfultoexploresomekeyprinciplesabitfurther.

2.3.2 Doesmorechoicemeanmorewellbeing?

BarrySchwartz6talksaboutwhatintheU.S.iscalled‘patientautonomy’,thatis,peoplegettochoosetheirhealthcareprovider.Schwartzarguesthatbecausepeopledonotreallyunderstandtheirchoices,thispatientautonomyissimplyshiftingtheburdenandresponsibilityfromsomeonewhoknows(inthiscaseadoctor)tosomebodywhoknowsnothingaboutit(thepatient)andwhoislikelytobeunwellatthetimeofhavingtochoose.Hearguesthatmorechoicedoesnotnecessarilyleadtobetteroutcomes.

SheenaIyengarinherbook7andtheabovementionedTEDtalk,referringtoacross-culturalstudy,saysthathavinghadachoiceinadifficultmatterdoesnotnecessarilymakeapersonmoresatisfiedorhappierafterwards.Shegivesanexamplewhereeitheradoctororthenextofkinhadtomakeareallydifficultdecisionaboutpeople’scareandtreatment(turningofflifesupport).Shefoundthatinthecountrywherethedoctormadethechoicetoturnoflifesupport(inFrance),thenextofkinwascopingbetterwiththedecisiononeyearafterwardsthanthenextofkin(inAmerica)whomadethesamedecisionthemselves.Inaninterestingtwist,thenextofkininAmericacontinuedtoinsistthatitwasimportanttothemthattheyhadthechoice(evensoitleftthemfeelingworsethanthenextofkininFrance).

Finally,despitepublishingabookcalled‘TheTyrannyOfChoice’,RenataSalecl8,aphilosopherfromSlovenia,arguesthatopeningnewchoicescanshiftourthinkingandhelpsusimagineandpossiblycreateanotherreality.Thismeansthat,forexample,havingachoiceaboutparticipatinginamainstreamactivity,ratherthanoneexclusivelyavailabletopeoplewithdisability,mightopenthethinkingofsomeonetothepossibilitythatlifecouldbeinclusive.

6Schwartz,B(2004):TheParadoxofChoice:WhyMoreisless7Iyengar,S(2010):TheArtofChoosing8Salecl,R.(2011):TheTyrannyofChoice



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Thinkingaboutthesefindings,thereareclearlyculturaldifferencesinourrelationshiptochoiceandtheimportanceweplaceonchoicemaking.

Puttingallofthisintoapersoncentredthinkinganddoingcontext,couldtherebesituationswerechoiceandchoicemakingcouldleadtolessgoodoutcomes?

Ofcourse,inpart,thesequestionsdependonwhatwethinkagoodoutcomemightlooklike.Italsodependsonwhetherwebelieveallchoiceshavetobeperfectrightfromthestartorwhethermakingsomechoicesisasmuchaboutlearningabouttheactofchoicemaking,asitisabouttheoutcomeitself.

Reflections

What’syourrelationshiptochoicemaking?Whatkindofchoicesareimportanttoyou?Whatmakeschoicemakingstressfulforyou?

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2.3.3 Ischoicemakingsomethingwelearn?

SheenaIvengar,referringtostudieswithpeoplewhogrewupinpre-capitalistEasternblockcountries,makesthepointthatchoicemakingcanproducefearandanxietyinpeople,especiallyiftheyarenotusedtomanychoices.

Thisisnotanewidea.Kierkegaard,a19thcenturyDanishPhilosopher,saidthatanxietywasthe:

“dizzyingeffectoffreedom,ofparalysingpossibilitiesandoftheboundlessnessofone’sownexistence”9

Soweputstrategiesinplace.Ifchoicemakingbecomesalltoomuchforus,wetrytomanageby:

9Kerkegaard,S.(1844):TheConceptofAnxiety



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´ Creatingyes/nooptions,

´ Distinguishchoicesthatarerealfromchoicesthatarenotreal;

´ Reducingthedifferencesbetweenthechoices(createcategories).

Basically,ifwebecomeoverwhelmedbythechoicesonofferwedonotexperiencethisasliberating,butasconstrainingorevenanxietyprovoking.

Butcanchoicemakingcanbelearned?Howcanwegoaboutit?

FrankSonnenberg,anauthorintheleadershiparea,providesthefollowingadvice:

“Makinggoodchoicesbeginswithtakingchargeofthedecision-makingprocess:

Managethebigstuff.It’sveryeasytogetsidetrackedbyinsignificantissuesinlife.Ifyouspendalotoftimeontrivialstuff,youwon’thavetimetocontemplatethingsthatmatter.

Valuesmatter.Makedecisionsthatareconsistentwithyourcorebeliefsandvalues.Thealternativeinvariablyleadstoregret.

Learnfromthepast.Learnfromyourexperiencesandtheexperiencesofothers.Identifysituationswhereyou’vehadasimilarchoiceinthepast.Howcanyouapplythoselessonslearnedtotheexistingsituation?

Knowwhatyouknowandwhatyoudon’tknow.Don’ttrytobeanexpertineverything.Seekinputandadvicewhenvariableslieoutsideyourcomfortzone.

Keeptherightperspective.Viewanissuefromeveryvantagepoint.Whatdothefactssay?Whatisyourintuitiontellingyou?Isyourconsciencetryingtotellyousomething?Listenup.

Don’tprocrastinate.You’llrarelyhavealltheinformationthatyouneedtomakea“perfect”decision.Sodon’tdemandperfection.ThephilosopherVoltairewarnedagainstlettingtheperfectbetheenemyofthegood.Thatadvicestillholdstruetoday.

Onceyoumakeadecision,don’tlookback,makeitwork.Don’tsecond-guessyourself.Youcan’trelivethepast.It’sawasteofvaluabletimeandenergy.”10

10Sonnenberg,F.(2015):7waystomakegoodchoices;http://www.franksonnenbergonline.com/blog/7-ways-to-make-good-choices/



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Allofthishasrelevanceforusaswemovefromasystemwherepeoplewithdisabilityhadnoorveryfewchoicestoanenvironmentwhereaproliferationofchoicesisexpected.

Workingfromapersoncentredperspective,itmightbeusefulforustorememberthestudiesofShenaIyengarwithpre-capitalistEasternEuropeans.Ifwiththinkofpeoplewithdisability,especiallypeoplewithintellectualdisability,asaculturalgroup,thenwecouldcertainlyseethatalackofchoicesinthepastmightmeanthatpeoplemayexperiencefearandanxietyinthefaceoftoomanychoices.Justthinkingaboutthechoicesmayleavesomepeoplefeeloverwhelmedandworried.

Reflections

Whatareyourstrategiesforchoicemaking?Canyouwritethemdown?(becauseifyoucanwritethemdownthenyoucansharethemwithothers)

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2.3.4 Doweknowwhatwewant(whenasked)?

MalcolmGladwell11saysthatifyouaskpeoplewhattheyreallywant,theydon’ttellyou.Weoftendon’tquiteknowwhatwewant.Orwethinkweknowwhatwewant,butitisnotreallywhatwewant.

Heusesexamplesfromadvertisingfoodthatsuggestthatwesayonething,butoftenwereallymeansomethingelse.

Weallknowaboutopticalillusions,butwearenotsogoodatunderstandingtheillusionsofourmindandhowthoseimpactonourchoicemaking.

Asanaside,ifyouthinkyouknowwhatyouwantandthatyoucan’tbemanipulated,havealookattheworkofwhat’scalledbehaviouraleconomistsintheareaofirrationaldecision-making.DanAriely,aProfessor

11Gladwell,M.(2004):Choice,Happinessandspaghettisauce,Tedtalk;https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce?language=en



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ofPsychologyandBehaviouralEconomics,didagreatTEDtalkandwroteawholebookonthistopic.12

BacktoGladwell,whoalsosaidthatinordertofindawaytowards‘happiness’,wehavetofindawaytoeachperson,personbyperson.Eachindividualisdifferent.Wearenot‘clustersofpeople’.Thissoundsverymuchlikeoperatingfromapersoncentredapproach.

ThetwopointsmadebyGladwellareveryimportanttothoseofuswantingtoworkfromapersoncentreperspectivethatisculturallyresponsive.

Firstly,ifwesimplyaskpeoplewhattheywant,many(butnotall)peoplewillnotknow.Weneedtofindbetterquestions;betterwaysofbeingandexploringchoicestogetherwithpeople;andpeopleneedtohavethetime,resourcesandopportunitiestofindouttheanswersforthemselves.Noneofuscanimaginesomethingwecannotimagine–thismightsoundfunnybutifyouthinkaboutit,youknowthisistrueforeveryone.Sometimeswecannotimaginewhatmightbepossible.Thisiswhylisteningtoandlearningfrompeopleinsimilarsituationsisreallyimportant.

Secondly,ifwetreatpeopleasonegroup(forexample,treatingpeoplewiththesamedisabilityasonegroup,orpeoplefromthesameethniccommunityasonegroup),wewillmisstheopportunityforpeopletomakethechoicesthatworkforthemasindividualswithintheirculturalcontext.

2.3.5 Aremorechoicesbetterforyou?

Mostpeoplebelievethateveryonebenefitsfrommakingchoicesaboutthethingsthataffecttheirlivesandthatmorechoicesarebetterthanfewerchoices.Well,notreally.BothIyengarandSchwartzsaythathavingtoomanychoicesleadsto:

´ Alackofengagement:it’salltoohardandwesimplydelaychoosing.Themorethereisonofferthelesslikelyitisthatwewillchoose.

´ Lesssatisfactionwiththechoicewemade:wearealwaysthinkingaboutwhatwouldhavebeenifwehadchosensomethingelse.Weworryabouthavingchosenthewrongthing,evenifweifweareokwithourchoice.Thisis‘thegrassisalwaysgreenerontheotherside’thinking.

´ Lesssatisfactionduetohigherexpectations:ifthingsaregoodnow,weexpectthemtobeperfectnexttimeandyetnothingseemsevergoodenough.Thisis‘inthegoodolddayseverythingwasbetter’thinking.

12Ariely,D.(2008):Areweincontrolofourowndecisions?;Tedtalk;https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions?language=en



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´ Poorerdecisions:Ifwehave10ormorechoicesinarangeofcriticalareas(suchasfinanceorhealthcare)wetendtomakepoorerdecisionsthanifwehadfewerchoices.

2.3.6 Ismakingchoiceanexpressionofourindividuality?

SheenaIyengarsuggeststhatpeoplefromculturesthatvaluetheselfoverthecollectivesgenerallyseechoicemakingasanexpressionoftheirindividuality,anactthatdefinestheiridentify.

Atthesametime,shepowerfullyprovesthatinculturesthatvaluethecollectiveovertheindividual,decisionmakingbyindividualsismuchmoreaboutanopportunitytoexpressharmonyandconnectednesswithothers.

Nowdoesthisreallymatter?

Yesitdoes.Inacross-culturalexperimentIyengarshowsthatmakingchoicesthatarecongruent,thatis,inlinewithyourculture,resultinbetteroutcomesfromthosechoices.Havingmadeachoicethatis‘culturallyright’youhaveabetterchanceinachievingsuccessasaresultfromthatchoice.InIyengar’sstudythatmeantAmericanchildrenperformedbetterinatestwhentheychoseelementsofthattestthemselves.WhilechildrenfromaJapanesebackgroundperformedbetterwhentheyfollowedthechoicetheirmotherhadsuggestedtothem.

Manypeoplewithdisabilityhavelearnednottomakechoicesandtofirstlistentowhatotherpeoplethink.Peoplewhoarehighlydependentonothersfortheirday-to-daycareandsupportmaylistentoothersandtheirwishesfirst,andthenchoosesomethingthatisinlinewiththechoiceofthepeoplesurroundingthem.

Soagainthelearningfromcross-culturalstudiescanassistusinourpersoncentredthinkinganddoing.

2.3.7 Whattodowithallofthat?

Maybeafteralloftheaboveitsimportanttosayagain:Itisgreatthatpeoplewithdisabilitywillhavemorechoiceandcontroland,likeeveryone,mostwillvaluethat.

ToassistpeopleintheirchoicemakingSheenaIyengarprovidesuswithfourtips:

´ Dropthenumberofchoices:Assistpeopletocutoutchoicesthatdon’twork,thechoicesthatarenotreallyachoiceanyhow.

´ Beforeyouchoose,imaginetheoutcomeofthechoice:Helppeopletotryimagine,trytounderstand(andfeel)theconsequencesofthechoice;assistpeopletomakethatimaginationfeelreal.



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´ Putthechoicesintocategoriesandchooseacategoryfirst:forexample,assistpeopletochoosebetweenfurtherstudyorworkbeforeyouchoosebetweenalltheworkoptionsandallthefurtherstudyoptions

´ Startwithasmallnumberofchoicesandincreaseafterthat:forexample,assistpeopletochoosebetweenicecreamorcakefordessert,andonlythenhelppeoplechoosefromallthedifferentflavoursofice-cream.

Finally,shesays,andweagree,anygoodpersoncentredpractitionercanassistpeopletobechoosyaboutchoosing.



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3. Conclusion

Thisworkbookaimedtoassistyouinunderstandinghowtosupportpeopletomakechoices.Usingresearchandinsightsfromarangeofstudies,includingcross-culturalstudies,wedeepenourunderstandingofhowwehumansarebothsimilaranddifferentinhowweexperiencechoicemaking,whychoicemakingisimportant,andevenhowsuccessfulwewillbeoncewehavemadeourchoice.

Youmayalsowanttohavealookatsomeoftheotherworkbooksrelatingspecificallyto‘“IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”.

Reflections

Whataresomeofthetakeawaymessagesfromthisworkbook?Aretherethingsyoudisagreewith?Wastheresomethingthatsurprisedyou?

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