Lesson #R6: “I Don’t Care” Attitude
Time: 50 minutes
FOR GROUPS
Overview
This lesson speaks directly to the “I don’t care” attitude, which often starts with a shrug of the shoulders and a sound like “pssst”
slipping through the lips of a frustrated youth. As caring adults, we often find ourselves in an embittered power struggle with youth
with this attitude and we become equally frustrated. This frustration causes our own “I don’t care” (IDC) attitude. At the core of the
“IDC” attitude is the feeling of powerlessness. This attitude is strongest when youth care the most - when they feel as though there are
no options to deal with or fix the thing they most care about. “I don’t care” becomes a mask that hides the youth’s anger, fear, and
pain. The youth is close to an explosion if pushed.
The “IDC” attitude is a risk factor, and it is an extremely powerful life-view that influences decisions with life-long consequences.
Remember that the “IDC” attitude is simply a mask for “I care so much, but I feel powerless. I don’t know how to change anything.”
In this lesson, youth watch a clip from the Grid Iron Gang to uncover the “I Don’t Care Attitude”. They reflect upon what they do
care about and learn coping strategies. As one strategy, they learn to hold a vision up about what they do care about. The other
strategy is to confront what is really bothering them.
Objectives
1. Youth articulate underlying emotions that create the mask of the “I don’t care” attitude.
2. Youth recognize what they actually care about and become empowered to act accordingly.
3. Youth reflect on how goal management skills (seeking alternative strategies and seeking help) can combat the
Materials
 Risk Factors Wheel
 Video Clip: Grid Iron Gang
 Handout: Grid Iron Gang Discussion Questions
Last Updated: 1/18/12
R6: “I Don’t Care” Attitude
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ENROLL
(5 min)
Lesson Outline
Welcome
Quote highlights
today’s subject.
Lesson Description
Facilitator greets youth as they arrive, encouraging a sense of belonging.
Facilitator gives youth roughly two minutes to write their thoughts on the quote.
Today’s Quote: “The first day I shot dope was on a Sunday. I had just come home from
church and got mad at my mother, cuz she got mad at me. U dig?''— Anonymous Youth
Facilitator facilitates discussion with the young people about the quote.
EXPERIENCE
(14 min)
“I Don’t Care”
Attitude on Risk
Wheel
(3 min)
Grid Iron Gang
Clip (9 min)
Facilitator has youth refer to the Risk Factors Wheel.
Say:
 Let’s locate the “I don’t care attitude”. Will one of you read the definition out loud?
 Many youth actually refer to this as “I don’t give a ‘F’”. Will you please show me or
explain the body language that reveals this attitude?
 Why is this a risk factor for thriving and being all you can be?
Show Grid Iron Gang Clip
Facilitators ask youth to raise their hands if they have seen Grid Iron Gang. Facilitator has
youth sit in groups of three and hands each group a Grid Iron Gang Discussion Question
handout.
Say:
 We’re going to see a clip from Grid Iron Gang. Then, I’d like groups of three to discuss
the questions in this handout. Decide which member is going to “scribe” and which
member is going to “report back”.
 As you watch the clip, think about Willie and the risk factors on the wheel that you see.
Facilitator shows Grid Iron Gang clip.
DEMONSTRATE Movie Clip
(10 min)
reflection
Last Updated: 1/18/12
Movie Clip Reflection
Ask the group:
 Will one of you give me a synopsis of what happened during the clip?
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DEMONSTRATE Apply concept
(15 min)
to self.
Articulate
shining, fears &
implications.
Last Updated: 1/18/12
Facilitator then has small groups discuss the first set of questions from the handout:
Set #1
 What are the risk factors?
 Why does Willie fight the boy in Juvenile Hall?
 When Willie says he doesn’t Give a Sh*t about the team, is that true? Why or why not?
 What was really bothering Willie? Explain your answer.
 What was Willie willing to walk away from? Was it worth it? Would that have fixed his
problem?
Make the Point:
 Okay, let’s come back together now. I heard some of you make the very important point
that the “I don’t care attitude” can be used to cover up what is really bothering us.
 You saw it can cause decisions that are very costly to us, to our future & to those that
love us. See that?
Say:
 Often we have so much going on in our lives that we have a hard time figuring out the
core of what is bothering us.
 Other times, we feel so frustrated that we just throw up our hands and walk away—
telling ourselves we don’t care anyway.”
Facilitator asks youth to answer the self-reflection questions on the handout. (Same small
groups.)
Set #2:
1. When was the last time you felt the “I don’t care” attitude? What does it look like on
you? (Describe non-verbal communication.)
2. What was really bothering you then?
3. What were you willing to walk away from?
4. Have you ever seen the attitude in yourself, and wondered why you weren’t stopping? Or
have you ever reversed that attitude and changed direction?
5. Do you have Fearships that push you towards negative decisions when you adopt the “I
don’t care” attitude? Or, do you have friendships that help you deal with the issues that
really bother you?
6. Can you see how “IDC” attitude combines with other risk factors to fuel negative
outcomes?
Say:
 Now, write a list of the things you are most thankful for and actually care a lot about.
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

LEARN &
LABEL
(2 min)
Strategies to
Combat IDC
Attitude
REFLECTION
(4 min)
Personal
reflection
I’d like to capture some of these on the board/flipchart.
Let’s agree to keep this list (independently or as a group) so we can remember what is
really important to us and help remind each other.
Strategies for combating IDC Attitude
Say:
 One way to combat the “IDC” attitude is through holding on to gratitude and vision.
 When we can see the things that we are most thankful for (such as family, friends, your
spark, etc.), and tie those things to a positive and meaningful vision for life, we can ditch
the “IDC” attitude.”
Say:
 Another strategy for dealing with the attitude - or feeling powerless about something that
you truly care about - is to confront the things that are really bothering you. Work to
improve and seek out resources that can help you.
Examples:
 Do you feel dumb? … Apply a growth, try new study strategies, or get extra help from
your facilitator or a tutor.
 Do you miss your Dad? Write him a letter or have a family member tell you great
memories about him.
Say:
 Let’s take a final moment to think about, write about or share with a friend, our ideas for
ways to overcome the “IDC” attitude in ourselves, when we really do care!…
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Developed by L.I.P with support from Thrive Foundation for Youth. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommerial-Share Alike 3.0. U.S. License. 2010. This
document can be shared and adapted by users for educational, non-commercial purposes.
Last Updated: 1/18/12
R6: “I Don’t Care” Attitude
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