Chapter 8 Peer Relationships

Peer Pressure & Refusal Skills:

Safe & Healthy Friendships

Building Strong Friendships:

Peer Relationships:

Peer pressure- the influence that people you age may have on you

The development of your identity will be influenced by many factors including your peers.

Healthy Relationships are based on: Mutual respect, Caring, Honesty, & Commitment

Resisting Negative Peer Pressure:

Positive peer pressure...

How can peers be positive?

Friends have common attributes:

• Similar values interests, beliefs, attitudes
• Open and honest communication
• Sharing of joys, disappointments, dreams, and concerns
• Mutual respect, caring, and support
• Concern about each other's safety and well-being

Additional traits of positive friendships include:

• Empathy
• Fairness
• Shared interests
• Acceptance
• Support
• Loyalty

Negative peer pressure...

How can peers be negative?

Practicing refusal skills will help you deal with negative peer pressure

Casual & close friendships?

Harassment- persistently annoying others

Platonic friendships?

Online friendships?

Manipulation- indirect, dishonest way to control or influence other people

Assertive Refusal:

1- State your position

2- Suggest alternatives

3- Stand your ground

Recognizing Problems in Friendships:

Why is it important to be able to recognize a problem in any relationship?

Clique- is a small circle of friends , usually with similar backgrounds or tastes, who EXCLUDE people viewed as outsiders

What are some problems with Passive & Aggressive Responses?

Managing feelings of envy of jealousy:

Ask yourself:

• What is making me feel Jealous?
• Is my friend deliberately trying to make me feel this way?
• What can I do to manage or reduce these feelings?
• How can I feel better about myself?
• Are these feelings of jealousy more important than our friendship?
• What positive qualities make this person a good friend?

When Friendships Change:

Are feelings of envy or jealousy healthy?

These things could end a friendship:

• Pressure to do something unsafe, unhealthy, or goes against your values
• Saying hurtful and insulting things to you
• Constantly trying to get you to change your beliefs or actions

Chapter 8

Peer Relationships

Practicing Abstinence:

Dating Decisions:

Abstinence:

Personal values and priorities will influence your dating decisions

Intimacy- a closeness between two people that develops over time

Priorities- the goals, tasks, values, and activities that you judge to be more important than others

Infatuation-exaggerated feelings of passion

Keep this in mind:

• You & your date deserve to be treated with consideration and respect
• Be yourself and communicate your thoughts and feelings honestly
• Never feel pressured to do anything that goes against your family's values

Self-control- is a person's ability to use responsibility to over-ride emotions

• Set limits for expressing affection
• Communicate with your partner
• Talk with a trusted adult
• Seek low-pressure dating situations
• Date Someone who respects & shares your values

What are RISK situations?

Why should you set limits?

Why should you avoid RISK situations?

How do you set limits?

How do you avoid RISK situations?

Considering the Consequences:

Committing to Abstinence:

Abstinence from sexual activity has a positive effect on all sides of your health triangle:

Effects on Mental/Emotional Health:

Effects on Physical Health:

Teens who engage in sexual activity before reaching emotional maturity may experience:

Abstinence is the only 100% effective method to eliminate health risks associated with sexual activity such as:

Talking about abstinence to partner:

• Choose a relaxed/comfortable time and place
• Begin on a positive note
• Be clear in your reasons for choosing abstinence
• Be firm in setting limits in your physical relationship

• STD's, STI's, HIV, AIDS
• Unplanned pregnancy

• Hurt b/c partner is not committed like a marriage
• Feeling of guilt from not being honest with parents
• Loss of self-respect by going against values and beliefs
• Regret and anxiety if sexual activity results in pregnancy or STD's

Effects on Social Health:

Use refusal skills to stand your ground!

Sexually active teens may:

• Deprive themselves the opportunity to pursue new interests or friendships
• Harm a teen's relationship with family members
• Parents could be disappointed, worry, or cause tension

Can someone recommit to abstinence?