1. Dealing with Peer Pressure
Building Relationship Skills

2. Key Concepts Compare and contrast negative and positive peer pressure
Identify 3 ways you can respond to negative peer pressure
Key Concepts

3. Recognizing Peer Pressure
Peer- person of the same age group
Clothes you wear, places you go, and activities you choose are often influenced by your peers
Can affect the way you act and the things you say
Peer pressure- pressure you feel to do what others your age are doing
Recognizing Peer Pressure

4. Positive Peer Pressure
Positive peer pressure is what you feel when people your age encourage you to do something worthwhile
Positive peer pressure supports your values and beliefs, and it almost always results in positive consequences for everyone involved
Positive Peer Pressure

5. Role model- a person you admire and learn behavior and attitudes from
Influences your thinking by providing you with an example to imitate
Athletes, musicians, actors, and other celebrities are role models to many, but family members and friends can also be role models
Good role models are a positive influence on those whose lives they touch
Inspire you to work harder, think about your future, and develop beneficial behaviors
Role Models

6. Role models can also serve as good examples of what not to do
A teen whose role models do not use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs may be positively influenced to follow their lead
Role Models

7. Negative Peer Pressure
When you hear someone say everybody’s doing it, how do you feel?
This is just one of the phrases people say when they are using negative peer pressure
Negative peer pressure- what you feel when your peers try to persuade you to do something you do not feel is right, or something that has negative consequences
People who use negative peer pressure often know that what they are pressuring others to do is wrong
Convincing friends to join them fills their own needs, not the needs of their friends, and makes them feel important and in control
Negative Peer Pressure

8. Manipulation- a dishonest way to control or influence someone
People who manipulate others aim to get what they want, regardless of the consequences
To get others to do what they want they:
Challenge your courage
Appeal to your desire to belong
Flattery
Appeal to guild
Threaten or coerce
Manipulation

9. How do you feel when people try to manipulate you into doing things that are wrong?
Watch out for so-called friends who constantly push you to prove yourself by doing things you feel are wrong
True friends will not pressure you to do something you do not want to do
Manipulation

10. Bullies pick on others as a way to gain power, to get their way, or to feel important
Can be gossiping, constant teasing, or physical violence
When bullies use these tactics to get others to do what they want, they are using negative peer pressure
You do not have to let bullying get the best of you
Sometimes appearing confident and telling the bully to stop is enough to make a bully back down
Other times, ignoring the bully makes the pressure go away
Whenever bullying gets out of hand, tell an adult
Do not fight back-this only satisfies a bully and can make the harassment worse
Bullies

11. Gang- group of people who associate with one another because they have something in common and are looking for acceptance
Many gangs are involved in illegal activities, and use negative peer pressure to convince others in their group to go along with it
There are many alternatives to joining a gang
If you are harassed by gang members, seek help
Gangs

12. Responding to Negative Peer Pressure
Passive response
Giving in to peer pressure and backing down instead of standing up for your needs and wants
May often be viewed as a pushover who is not worthy of respect
Aggressive response
Hostile responses that violate rights of others
People either tend to avoid those who are aggressive or jump in and fight back
Responding to Negative Peer Pressure

13. Responding to Negative Peer Pressure
Assertive response
Stand up for your rights in firm but positive ways
Directly and honestly state thoughts and feelings
Show that you mean what you say
Most people respect others who show the courage to be true to themselves
Responding to Negative Peer Pressure

14. Know what you want- identify specific actions or behaviors that need to be changed or put into action
Prepare yourself
Speak with conviction- positively state exactly what you want and do not apologize or weaken your message
Keep your body “on message”- stand up straight and use eye contact
Refuse to be interrupted
Compromise- decide in advance what compromises would be satisfactory
Stand Up for Yourself

15. Developing Refusal Skills
What if a friend tries to convince you to do something you do not want to do or that goes against your values?
Learning refusal skills can help
Refusal skill- basic communication skill you can use to say no effectively
Say no and mean it
Offer alternatives
Take action
Developing Refusal Skills

16. Developing Confidence
Doing what you believe is right can be especially hard when peers pressure you to make certain decisions
When you are struggling with peer pressure, remember that it is your life, not someone else’s
Developing Confidence

17. Review Peer pressure is always negative.
False
People who always go along with the group, no matter what, are viewed as cool and easy going.
Friends can still be positive role models if they drink alcohol or use drugs.
Review

18. Review A person you admire and learn behavior from is called what?
Role model
What is it called when a good friend encourages you to do something healthy or worthwhile?
Positive peer pressure
Why would someone manipulate another person?
To get what he/she wants
Review

19. Review What are possible responses to negative peer pressure?
Passive response
Aggressive response
Assertive response
A(n) _________ is a person of the same age group.
Peer
A dishonest way to control or influence another person is called _______________.
Manipulation
Review

20. When a manipulator tries to make you feel as if he is counting on you to do something, he is using ______________.
Guilt
A group of people who associate together for acceptance is called a(n) _________.
Gang
The pressure you feel to do what others your age are doing is called __________ .
Peer pressure
Review

21. Speaking with _________ means politely stating exactly what you want without apologizing.
Conviction
Responding to peer pressure in a firm but positive way is called a(n) ________ .
Assertive response
A(n)__________ is a hostile response to peer pressure that violates the rights of others.
Aggressive response
Review