1. Friendly Teasing Vs. Hurtful Teasing
We use teasing as a way of talking with our friends.
People are NOT making fun of someone’s disabilities, ethnicity, faith or other characteristics that are out of the other person’s control.
It is not meant to harm you in any way and if you asked the person to stop, they would stop.
The teasing is not repeated over and over again .
One person gets more than their fair share of the teasing.
A group ganging up on one person.
The teasing happens repeatedly, even when that person has asked them to stop.
Hurtful teasing is done by someone you do not have a relationship with.
People are making fun of characteristics that are out of that person’s control (faith, disability). 1

2. A “Cool” Response: Your Best
Responses to Teasing
A “Cold” Response
(Passive)
A “Hot” Response
(Aggressive)
A “Cool” Response: Your Best
(Assertive) 2

3. Aggressive vs. Passive vs. Assertive
What do these responses look like?
Aggressive vs. Passive vs. Assertive
Body Posture
Eye Contact
Speech
Tone of Voice

4. Strategies for “Being Cool” when dealing with Teasing
1. Decide if the teasing is friendly or hurtful.
2. Determine which "Be Cool" Strategy to Use
* Ignore It
* Laugh It Off and Change the Subject
* 4 Step Assertion Plan
(Ask the Teaser to Stop) 4

5. 4 Step Assertion Plan (Ask the Teaser to Stop)
Tell the teaser what you do not like about what he/she is doing.
Tell the teaser how you feel about what he/she is doing (I-Message).
Tell the teaser what you want him/her to do differently.
Tell the teaser what may happen if he/she does not stop. 5