# Ethical Decisions Part of the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-society/guide/index.md) *3. Ethical Decision-Making* > **3.** Consider ethical decision-making. > **3a.** Think about a time you faced an ethical decision. > **3a1.** Discuss the situation, what you did, and how it made you feel. > **3a2.** Share if you would do anything differently in the future and if so, what that would be. > **3b.** List three examples of ethical decisions you might have to make in the future at school, at home, in the workplace, or in your community, and what you would do. > **3b1.** Share how your actions represent alignment with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. > **3c.** Explain to your counselor how you plan to use what you have learned to assist you when that time comes, and what action(s) you can take to serve as an upstander and help other people at all times. In Requirement 2, you studied ethical leadership in someone else. Now it is time to turn the lens on yourself. This requirement asks you to reflect on your *own* ethical decisions — one you have already made and several you might face in the future. This is one of the most personal requirements in the entire badge. There are no textbook answers here. Your counselor wants to hear your honest reflections about real moments in your life. ## Requirement 3a: Reflecting on Your Ethical Decision ### Part A: Your Past Ethical Decision Think back to a time when you had to choose between doing the right thing and doing the easy thing. It does not have to be a dramatic, life-changing moment. Ethical decisions happen every day, and the small ones matter just as much as the big ones. Here are some examples to jog your memory: - A friend asked you to help them cheat on a test. - You saw someone being teased and had to decide whether to speak up. - You found something valuable that did not belong to you. - A group of friends wanted to exclude someone, and you had to decide whether to go along. - You made a mistake and had to decide whether to tell the truth about it. Once you have your moment, walk through these questions: **What happened?** Set the scene. Who was involved? What were the stakes? **What did you do?** Describe your actual choice — not what you wish you had done, but what really happened. **How did it feel?** Were you proud? Nervous? Relieved? Guilty? Ethical decisions almost always come with complicated feelings. **Would you do anything differently?** This is the most important question. Looking back with fresh eyes, would you make the same choice? If not, what would you change and why? > **Tip** > > Honesty matters more than perfection here. If you made a choice you are not proud of, say so. Your counselor will respect your honesty far more than a polished story where you are the hero every time. ![A Scout sitting under a tree writing in a journal, looking thoughtful, with a natural outdoor setting](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/citizenship-in-society/guide/scout-reflecting-journal?v=816a3f91) ## Requirement 3b: Planning Future Ethical Decisions ### Part B: Future Ethical Decisions Now think forward. The requirement asks you to list three ethical decisions you *might* face in the future and explain what you would do in each case. Think about the different areas of your life: **At School:** Ethical decisions at school might involve academic honesty, standing up to bullying, including someone who is left out, or navigating peer pressure. **At Home:** At home, ethical decisions could involve being honest with your parents, treating siblings fairly, or taking responsibility for a mistake. **In the Workplace:** As you get older and start working, you might face decisions about honesty with a boss, treating coworkers fairly, or refusing to cut corners on safety. **In Your Community:** Community decisions might involve volunteering your time, standing up for someone at a public event, or choosing to help a neighbor in need. **Planning Your Three Examples** — For each example, think through these questions - [ ] What is the situation? Describe it clearly. - [ ] What are your options? Identify at least two choices. - [ ] What would you do? Explain your decision. - [ ] Why? Connect your choice to the Scout Oath or Scout Law. > **Did You Know?** > > Psychologists have found that people who *rehearse* ethical decisions in advance — thinking through what they would do before a situation happens — are significantly more likely to actually follow through when the moment arrives. By working through Requirement 3b, you are literally training your brain to make better choices. ## Requirement 3c: Taking Action as an Upstander ### Part C: Your Upstander Plan The final part of this requirement ties everything together. Your counselor wants to hear your plan for being an **upstander** — someone who takes action when they see something wrong. Being an upstander does not mean you have to be fearless. It means you are *willing* to act, even when it is uncomfortable. Here are some practical strategies: **Speak up directly.** If you feel safe, calmly tell the person that their behavior is not okay. "Hey, that's not cool" can be surprisingly effective. **Support the target.** Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stand next to the person being hurt. Walk with them, sit with them, or simply say, "Are you okay?" **Report it.** If the situation is too big for you to handle alone, tell a trusted adult — a teacher, parent, Scoutmaster, or counselor. This is not snitching; it is leadership. **Refuse to participate.** Even if you cannot stop what is happening, you can choose not to join in. Do not laugh, do not share the post, do not pile on. > **Be Prepared! What If Speaking Up Feels Too Risky?** > > You see a group of older students making fun of a younger student, and you are afraid that stepping in will make you a target too. > > - **Step one**: You do not have to confront the group directly. Focus on the person being targeted instead. > - **Step two**: After the moment passes, approach the younger student privately. "I saw what happened, and it was not okay. Are you alright?" > - **Step three**: Report the incident to a teacher or counselor. Describe what you saw factually. > - **Step four**: Check in with the student again later. Knowing someone cares can make all the difference. [StopBullying.gov — How to Be an Upstander](https://www.stopbullying.gov/): Government resource with practical advice on recognizing bullying and taking effective action. --- You have looked backward at your own past, forward into your future, and mapped out how you will show up as an upstander. That kind of self-reflection is exactly what ethical leadership looks like. --- - Previous: [Ethical Leadership](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-society/guide/req2/index.md) - Next: [Responding to Scenarios](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/citizenship-in-society/guide/req4/index.md)