Transcript Lesson 30 Peer and Dating Relationships

Warm-Up
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In what ways do friends contribute to your
life? List as many examples as you can!
Peer and Dating
Relationships
Lesson 30
Objectives
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Evaluate the positive and negative effects of
peer relationships and friends on physical and
emotional health
Evaluate the dynamics of social groups
Demonstrate refusal strategies and apply skills
for making responsible decision under pressure
Examine strategies for maintaining safe and
healthy dating relationships
Identify the characteristics of a healthy dating
relationship
Friendship
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Significant relationship between two people
– Based upon caring, respect, trust and consideration
– People you share hobbies, interests and other friends
with
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Platonic friendship: friendship with a member of
the gender in which there is affection but the
two people are not considered a couple
Types of Friendships
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Casual
– Relationship between peers who share something in common
– People with whom you share some interest but you do not
necessarily form deep emotional bonds with
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Close
– Strong emotional ties
– Comfortable sharing thoughts, experiences and feelings
– Trust and support each other
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True friends have several common attributes:
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Similar values, interests, beliefs and 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
Cliques
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Small circle of friends usually with similar backgrounds of
tastes, who exclude people viewed as outsiders
Often share similar attitudes, wear the same clothing,
meet regularly in an area identified as their “turf” and
engage in other behaviors that identify them as a clique
Can have both positive and negative influences on peers
– Positive: provide members with a sense of belonging, self
confidence
– Negative: members discouraged from thinking for themselves,
exclusion of other people, prejudices and stereotypes enforced
 Prejudice: making assumptions of judgments about an individual
without really knowing him or her
 Stereotype: exaggerated and oversimplified belief about an entire
group of people, such as an ethnic or religious group or a gender
Building and Strengthening
Friendships
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Be loyal
– Trust and depend on each other
– Speak respectfully of each other
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Encourage each other
– Be supportive
– Acknowledge each other’s accomplishments
– Help each other through difficult times
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Respect each other
– Common courtesy
– Avoid taking friends for granted
– Keep your promises
Peer Pressure
The influence that people you age may have on
you
 Positive or negative influences
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– Positive:
 Encourage participation in healthful behaviors
 Discourage participation in risky behaviors
– Negative:
 Pressure others to take part in behaviors with negative
consequences
 Harassment: persistently annoying others
 Engaging in behaviors against one’s values
 Manipulation: indirect, dishonest way to control or influence
others
Resisting Negative Peer Pressure
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Avoid it if possible
Develop friendships with people who share your values
and interests
Stay true to yourself
Be assertive
– Stand up for your rights in a firm but positive way
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Use refusal skills
– Communication strategies that can help you say no when you are
urged to take part in behaviors that are unsafe, unhealthy or that
go against your values
 Step 1: State your position
– Just say no!
 Step 2: Suggest alternatives
– Suggest another activity in place of the one you do not want to partake in
 Step 3: Stand your ground
– Use strong body language
– Maintain eye contact
– Leave the situation
Passive and Aggressive Responses
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Passive: tendency to give up, give in or back down
without standing up for one’s own rights and needs
– Passive teens may thing they are making friends by going along
– May cause others to view them as pushovers
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Aggressive: overly forceful, pushy, hostile or otherwise
attacking in an approach
– Aggressive teens may react by yelling, shouting, shoving or
insulting others
– Most people react to aggressive behavior by avoiding the
individual
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Being ASSERTIVE, not passive or aggressive will serve as
a useful skill throughout life, especially when resisting
peer pressure
Dating
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Don’t be pressured into dating, make sure it is your
choice
Group dates are a great option
Dating allows teens to develop and practice social skills
What to do on a date?
– Sports or athletic activities
 Promote health
 Allow dates to get to know each other better in a friendly, relaxed
atmosphere
– Community activities
 Choose an event or activity that interests both of you
– Charitable activities
 Volunteering together can help build strong friendships
 A great option for group dates
Avoiding Risky Situations
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Avoid places where alcohol and drugs are
present
– Alcohol and drugs impair judgment
– People under the influence are more likely to engage
in risky behaviors
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Avoid being alone with a date at home or in an
isolated place
– You may find it more difficult to maintain self-control
when you are home alone or in an isolated place with
a date
Relationships
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An ongoing relationship with just one person may help
you develop skills and behaviors that will someday
prepare you for the responsibility in marriage
– However, dating only one person during adolescent may limit
your chances of socializing with others
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Teen years are a time to try different roles and
relationships
Don’t stay in a relationship just because it is comfortable
Common dating problems include staying in a
relationship because you don’t know how to leave it
gracefully OR clinging to a person who wishes to end the
relationship
Honesty and open communication will help resolve
difficulties
Setting Limits
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Curfew
– May be set by a parent or guardian
– Set time that you must be home
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As you mature you’ll need to set your own
limits
– Age, where you’ll go, what you’ll do
– Make your limits clear to avoid potentially
risky situations