1. Group Associations

2. Valuable Friendships
Friendships make up a valuable, positive element in our lives.
The three components of good friendships are:
Belonging and Acceptance
Sharing of feelings and experiences
Sense of personal worth

3. A Need to Belong Feeling Lonely
Not feeling like you are part of a group (large or small).
You feel left out or overlooked altogether when you really want to feel included in the group.

4. A Need to Belong Being Alone Choosing to be alone.
Positive time for self.
Being alone doesn’t mean someone feels rejected or lonely.

5. A Need to Belong Being Rejected Others prefer not to be with you.
When you try to join in but are shut out.

6. Reasons for Rejection Physical handicaps Super smart
Learning disabilities
Ethnic origins
Religious beliefs
Gender
Geography (where you live)
Family income
Skill level
Inappropriate behaviors
Family structures

7. Left Out Activity
The object of this activity will be to follow the commands the teacher gives.
The teacher will call out a number and the students must form themselves into groups that are made up of that number.

8. Types of Groups What various types of groups are you associated with?
Sports
Character building
Service
Church

9. Types of Groups What various types of groups are you associated with?
Causes or concern centered
Neighbors
Activity Centered

10. Benefits of Group Association
Gives self-esteem
Reduces Stress
Offers opportunities for social and leadership skills
Understands social expectations
Provides identity and emotional security
Satisfies a sense of belonging and unity.

11. Warning!!! Does the group threaten me if I don’t do what they say?
Does the group engage in any illegal activity?
Does the group demean others?
Does the group promote prejudice?
Does the group engage in secret behavior they don’t want others to know about?
If you said yes to ANY of the above, it is probably not a positive group to join!!!

12. What is a Gang?
A group of people who form an allegiance to the exclusion of others, for a common purpose.
Engage in violent, unlawful, or criminal behavior.

13. Why Do Teens Join Gangs? Friendship A sense of belonging Identify
Something to do
Feeling of power
Excitement
Money
Protection
Pressure to join is so strong, teens feel they have no choice

14. Consequences With Gang Membership
Incarceration
Become wounded or killed
Hurt or kill others
Probably make little money
Cause great family trauma, or lose all family ties
Drop out of school, jeopardizing future
Close off other opportunities for future options
Substance abuse

15. Peer Pressure
Define Peer Pressure: Pressure or stress upon an individual to conform.
Two types of Peer Pressure
Positive Peer Pressure
Negative Peer Pressure
People conform:
Out of fear of being ridiculed or rejected.
Have a need to belong and be liked by others.

16. Negative Peer Pressure
Doing things you really don’t want to do
Doing something just to fit in
Loss of self-control
Personal conflict (right vs. wrong)
Judged by actions of the group

17. Positive Peer Pressure
Pressure into doing good things
Influences you to stick to values/goals
Helps you listen to your feelings
Help others by setting a good example
Judged by actions of the group

18. Ways to Deal with Peer Pressure
Make your own decisions
Know who you are and who you want to become
Set realistic positive goals
Weigh the consequences of your actions
Say no
Be persistent
Terminate the conversation
Don’t be defensive

19. Peer Pressure Activity
“Decide Early” Activity
Find a partner and face each other.
Object of the game – count the number of fingers on all four hands (your two hands and your partners two hands)
First one to yell out the answer correctly wins!

20. Summary
Being a member of a group brings a sense of belonging and can raise self-esteem.
Do not succumb to negative peer pressure.
Find groups to be apart of that strengthen your values, not go against them.