26 Contents Chapter Relationship Decisions Section 26.1 You and Your Friends Section 26.2 First Steps to Love

Section 26.1 You and Your Friends All kinds of friends are important in a person’s life. Peer pressure can be positive or negative. Handling negative peer pressure takes courage and a strong sense of self.

Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary reciprocity mingle peer pressure mingle bolster

Friends in Your Life Friends Friendships enrich life. They give three basic benefits, especially among children, adolescents, and young adults.   1. Emotional Support Friends 3. Models for Imitation 2. Opportunities to Practice Roles Friends Fulfill Emotional Needs Friends Learn From One Another Friends Provide Feedback

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: Friends supply emotional needs like caring, comfort, reassurance, acceptance, and understanding. MODELS FOR IMITATION: Friends teach us useful social and physical skills. They learn from each other.

FRIENDSHIP IS REAL-LIFE EDUCATION! OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICE ROLES: Friends may try out different roles with each other. They provide and audience to give feedback as you create your own identity. FRIENDSHIP IS REAL-LIFE EDUCATION!

Friends in Your Life All Kinds of Friends You have different kinds of friends to fulfill various needs. Some friends are good homework buddies while others are great teammates. Not every friend can or should be your best friend.  

Friends of Other Ages Younger children look up to teens and try to imitate them. This is a way to influence young children in positive ways. They can learn responsibility. It can inspire you to set a good example. Your sense of self worth can increase as well as the child you are friends with.

Friends of Other Ages Teens can benefit from friendships with adults. Can help you put the challenges and stresses of teen life into perspective. Give older adults a positive view of your generation and what you have to offer.

Friends in Your Life All Kinds of Friends Similarly, it is beneficial to mingle and make friends with people of all ages, ethnicities, races, religions, and political beliefs. This way, you will learn about other people. Your community will benefit when all of its members feel connected to each other.   mingle To associate or take part with others; participate.

Tips on Making New Friends Be positive Strive for friendship, not popularity Extend an invitation Lend a hand Keep expectations reasonable

Friends in Your Life Promote Friendship Making friends is not always easy. People who are shy or insecure can have a hard time talking to strangers. It is important to remember that the other person might also be uneasy and that you are a worthwhile friend for them to have.  

Friends in Your Life Promote Friendship Many good friendships share the same qualities. Do you recognize these qualities in your friendships?  

Friends in Your Life Keep Your Friends Friendships can be hard to maintain. Sometimes friends get into fights and stop speaking. You might have to work to keep your friendships alive. Do your part to maintain a relationship’s reciprocity, and you can have friendships that last decades.   reciprocity Mutual exchange.

Peer Pressure One difficult part of having friends is dealing with peer pressure. Often, good friends influence you in positive ways. They can encourage you to be active, study hard, or remain open to new things.   peer pressure Social pressure on a person to adopt a type of behavior, dress, or attitude in order to be accepted as part of a group.

Peer Pressure Handle Negative Pressure However, many teenagers also experience negative peer pressure. It can be hard to say no when friends tempt you to adopt their negative behavior. You can ignore negative peer pressure by bolstering your self-confidence. Know your goals and avoid activities that will keep you from achieving them.   bolster To boost up; increase.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Explain the benefits of making friends with different types of people. A variety of friends can help you see issues from other points of view, help you grow as a person, give you chances to learn, help you understand people better, and make you a more interesting person.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Define peer pressure. Explain how it can be positive or negative. Peer pressure is social pressure on somebody to adopt a type of behavior, dress, or attitude in order to be accepted as part of a group. It can be positive if it encourages you to do something helpful or keeps you from doing something wrong. It is negative if it pushes you to do something destructive or tempts you away from what you know is right.

Section 26.2 First Steps to Love People learn to love by going through stages. Attraction brings couples together. They may experience infatuation or mature love. It takes time to recover from the loss of a relationship.

Content Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary mature love compatible dating infatuation esteem abuse

Learn to Love Love can be learned through experience and observation. It is important that people learn the ability to love early so that they are able to healthfully give and receive it throughout their life span.  

Learn to Love Stage 1 - Self-Love   Stage 1 - Self-Love When babies are taken care of, they learn that they are deserving of love. Stage 2 - Love of Caregivers Babies next learn to love those who take care of them. Stage 3 - Love of Peers Children become attached to their playmates. Stage 4 - Hero Worship Children develop a loving admiration for an older role model. Stage 5 - Early Attraction Preteens and teens focus on superficial qualities in their attractions to others. Stage 6 - Mature Love This last stage of love builds over time and lasts.

Learn to Love Mature love is the stage that most people find the hardest to recognize and attain. Not everyone is prepared for a mature love relationship at the same age. Some people never develop enough emotionally to be capable of lasting mature love.   mature love Love that is shared between people at the highest level of emotional development.

Becoming a Couple During the preteen and teen years, people become interested in having a romantic relationship with another person. At first, the pair might hang out together with a group of friends. Conversation is less intimidating with others around.   Parents are also more comfortable when teens hang out in groups.

Becoming a Couple Gradually, the pair may become more comfortable with leaving the safety of their friend group to hang out together alone. When both people are ready to make their special relationship public knowledge, they become a couple.  

Becoming a Couple Attraction There are many different qualities that attract people to one another. You could be attracted by someone’s looks, skill, intellect, or sense of humor.   Every case of attraction is individual. Something that you find attractive may not be attractive to someone else and visa versa.

Becoming a Couple Attraction Good traits alone do not make a person right for you. Look for these things in a partner: Compatibility: People who are compatible share interests and values. Honesty: People need to be honest with each other.   compatible Capable of existing or living together in harmony.

Becoming a Couple Respect: A good relationship requires two people who esteem one another. Mutual Support: Both members should be supportive and caring. Independence: Both members of a couple need to maintain their own lives. Do not let a partner limit your activities or relationships.   esteem To regard with respect.

Becoming a Couple Dating Going out with another person is an exciting process. During dating, you take the time to learn about someone and build a relationship with them. Some people find it to be awkward, while others find that it helps them to gain confidence.   dating Shared social activity, usually involving two people going out together.

Becoming a Couple Dating Dating customs vary across cultures and age groups. For example, adults do not follow the same etiquette in dating as teenagers do. However, it always important to be respectful of the person you are dating.  

Becoming a Couple Date Abuse A person needs to be cautious when he or she dates someone. Never accept physical or emotional abuse. End the relationship rather than allow someone to take advantage of your body or feelings.   abuse Bad or improper treatment.

Infatuation and Love Romantic love comes in multiple forms. At first, a person will often experience infatuation instead of real love. Infatuation involves intense feelings for another, even if you do not know that person well. It can be hard to move past, especially if it is not returned.   infatuation An intense, emotional involvement that begins with a sudden, strong attraction.

Infatuation and Love Recognize Mature Love Mature love may develop from infatuation, but it is very different. It is based on attraction to another person’s interests, beliefs, and personality. It involves the continual effort of both parties to be supportive. Mature love encourages long-term commitment.  

When Relationships End People may enter relationships with hope and good intentions, but they are not always able to last. Sometimes it can be painful to end a weak or negative relationship. Most of the time, it is less difficult than living with a relationship that you do not find fulfilling.  

When Relationships End To end a relationship, be gentle and straight-forward. You need to make your feelings clear, but it does no good to be purposely harmful.  

When Relationships End Recovery Negative feelings like guilt, self-doubt, and hurt may remain after a relationship ends.   Try to move past them. Remember that many relationships end and determine what went wrong in this one in order to avoid the same mistake next time.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Describe how people learn to love. Through experience and observation—by receiving love from others and seeing the love relationships of others.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Identify benefits of the peer social groups that often precede dating. Being with the opposite gender can be less intimidating with friends close by, sexual pressures are more manageable in a group, peer pressure can be positive, and parents tend to feel more comfortable when teens associate in groups.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Explain whether infatuation is the first step to mature love. It is not. Some mature loves develop slowly without the drama of infatuation. However, infatuation can be a first step if partners like what they see when they come down from the emotional high of infatuation.

After You Read Review Key Concepts Suggest ways to kindly end a relationship that is not working for you. Use a gentle approach, be straight forward, do not be accusing, do not be hurtful, point out why you feel you are not right for each other, be firm rather than giving false hope.

End of Chapter 26 Dating Decisions