1. Enjoying Friendships
You and Your Peers

2. Key Concepts
Describe the benefits of friendships with those who are different from you
List the qualities of a true friend
Summarize your major responsibilities when hanging out with friends
Explain why friendships end

3. Peer Friendships
Your peers are likely the people you associate with most
Have the most in common with you at this point in your life

4. Peer Friendships
Clique- group that excludes others from its circle of friendship
Only by the group’s approval can someone be a apart of the group
The basis for acceptance is often superficial
The members of a clique reject people they think do not fit in
Avoid groups that treat other cruelly

5. Friends of Different Ages
Younger friends
Your attention is special to them
They may look up to you and see you as both a friend and a role model
Children who do not have positive parental figures can especially benefit from your friendship and guidance
Older friends
They have faced many of the same problems and obstacles you now face
They have stories that may help you put your own problems in perspective
Can give you advice for overcoming obstacles

6. Diverse Friends
Spending time with friends from a variety of backgrounds and experiences makes you a more well-rounded and interesting person
People who have different qualities than you do bring out different parts of your personality
Someone from a different background or culture can give you a new perspective of a situation or facts

7. Qualities of True Friends
Qualities you may want in a friend vary depending on the degree of friendship
Acquaintance- person you may know, but who is not a personal friend
Qualities:
Caring
Dependable- can be counted on and keep their word
Loyal
Respectful
Empathetic
Forgiving

8. Making New Friends Begins with self- confidence
When you believe in yourself, and your ability to contribute to a friendship, you are more likely to be friendly and open with people you do not know
Remind yourself that you are likeable, that you have traits and abilities others will enjoy
How to make new friends
Be positive
Strive for friendship, not popularity
Get involved
Extend an invitation
Lend a hand
Keep expectations realistic

9. Strengthening Friendships
Friendships take effort
Must know how to give as well as take
Do not take your friends for granted
It is important to identify the causes of past problems in friendships, so you can avoid them in future friendships

10. Hanging Out with Friends
Generally, teens like to be in mixed-gender groups
There is less pressure in group situations than in one-on- one dating situations
Without the nervousness of a date, you can relax and have a good time

11. Your Responsibilities
Responsibilities to the Community
Remember that other people visit the same places you go with your friends
Think about how your actions affect others
Be careful about the language you use around young children

12. Your Responsibilities
Responsibilities to Family
Parents and guardians need to know where you are going, with whom you are going, and when you will be home
Follow the rules set for you
Responsibilities to Friends
Treat them as you would like to be treated
Never leave your group or let another friend leave alone

13. Your Responsibilities
Personal Responsibilities
Set standards of behavior and keep them in mind when out with friends
Use your refusal skills if necessary

14. Safety Away from Home Keep safety in mind Act confident
Always look as if you know where you are going, even if you’re lost
Carry personal identification and emergency contact numbers, and make sure someone at home knows where you are and when you will be home
Learn where police and fire stations are located

15. Safety Away from Home Tips: Use the buddy system
Use well-traveled routes
Make a plan in case you become lost
Ignore strangers
Do not get into strangers’ cars
Watch your belongings
Trust your instincts

16. Dating
Adolescence is the time when most people develop an interest in romantic relationships
Because teens mature at different rates, not all of them will develop an interest in the opposite sex at the same time
If you are not ready to date, do not force it
Holding off on a one-to-one relationship until you are ready is completely normal

17. Infatuation
Infatuation- intense attraction to another person that may or may not be one-sided
Can feel like love, but it’s unrealistic
Usually based on superficial qualities
You are in love with what you imagine the other person is like
So caught up in the wonderful feelings that you ignore negative traits and the important differences between you
Seldom lasts long

18. Mature Love
Can start as a sudden, strong attraction or develop from a close friendship
Meaningful and lasting
Show each other the same qualities as friends
Share interests and life goals and want to work toward these goals together
Physical attraction is part of love, but is not the main focus

19. When Friendships End Not all friendships last forever Distance
Conflict
Jealousy
Changing interests
Deliberate action

20. Ending a Friendship Be sensitive Be tactful in your approach
Gradual approach- ease out of the relationship
Distance yourself by finding activities that gradually take more of your time
Direct approach
In the case of a friendship that is especially unhealthy or destructive, you may need to be direct, but kind, in your actions
Explain why you need to end the friendship
Focus on how you feel, not on the other person
Giving reasons rather than blaming the other person takes a good deal of courage

21. Handling Rejection
If a friendship or relationship ends against your wishes, understand that these are not lifetime commitments and this simply happens sometimes
Everyone experiences rejection at some point
As you move on to other friendships, you can take what that relationship taught you about friendship and yourself with you

22. Handling Rejection Ways to deal with rejection: Share your feelings
Be kind to yourself
Appreciate yourself
Evaluate your actions
Do not spread rumors or gossip
Move on

23. Review Some acquaintances can be very close friends at the same time.
False
Good friends have a strong sense of empathy for others.
True
One of the easiest ways to make new friends is to join a new club or start a new activity.

24. Review True friendships do not require any effort.
False
If you go somewhere with a group of friends, the group should stay together and leave together.
True
There is less pressure in group situations then in a one-on-one dating situation.
Infatuation often leads to a lasting relationship.

25. Review Even true friendships may not last forever.
A true friend should never try to control or manipulate you.
If you are a nice enough to others, you will never feel rejected.
False