Table 4.
Examples of Gist-Based Knowledge, Thinking, and Values Inculcated in Fuzzy Trace Theory's Risk Reduction Curriculum
| Types | Examples |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | Abstinence and latex condoms prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). |
| You have sex with everyone your partner has had sex with. | |
| Viruses like herpes are not curable; you have them and can give them to others for the rest of your life. | |
| One way to reduce the risk of STDs (including HIV/AIDS) is for you and your partner to get tested. | |
| To reduce the risk of STDs (including HIV/AIDS), other than not having sex, the second best thing to do is to use condoms. | |
| Thinking | If you keep having unprotected sex, risks will add up, and you will get pregnant or get someone pregnant. |
| Even low risks add up to 100% if you keep doing it. | |
| It only takes once to get pregnant or to get an STD. | |
| Once you have HIV/AIDS, there is no second chance. | |
| Even low risks happen to someone. | |
| Values | Avoid (catastrophic) risk. |
| Better to be liked than not have sex. (reverse) | |
| Better to be safe than sorry. | |
| Better to do what feels good now than worry all the time about the future. (reverse) | |
| Better to focus on school than have sex. | |
| Better to have fun (sex) while you can. (reverse) | |
| Better to wait than to have sex when you are not ready. | |
| Better to not have sex than hurt my parents/family. | |
| Better to not have sex than risk getting HIV/AIDS. | |
| Better to not have sex than risk getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant. | |
| Having a relationship is better than not taking a risk. (reverse) | |
| Having sex is better than losing a relationship. (reverse) | |
| Having sex is taking a calculated risk. (reverse) | |
| Having sex is worth risking HIV/AIDS. (reverse) | |
| Having sex is worth risking pregnancy. (reverse) | |
| Having your self-respect is better than having sex. | |
| I have a responsibility to God to wait to have sex. | |
| I have a responsibility to my partner to not put him/her at risk. | |
| I have a responsibility to myself to wait to have sex. | |
| I have a responsibility to my parents/family to not have sex. | |
| Known partners are safe partners. (reverse) | |
| Less risk is better than more risk. (trading off) | |
| Living is better than dying. | |
| More partners mean more risk. (trading off) | |
| No risk is better than some risk. |
Note. The curriculum discourages trading off catastrophic risks.