Dealing with Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure   It’s normal for people the same age, to try to

influence each other.

 The pressure you feel to do what others your age are doing is called peer pressure.

 Because most teens are sensitive to their peers’ opinions, peer pressure can be hard to resist.

Positive Peer Pressure  Have you ever been influenced by friends to do

something positive for yourself, others or your community?

 Positive peer pressure is what you feel when people your age encourage you to do something worthwhile.

 When a friend encourages you to study for a big test to get a good grade that is positive peer pressure.

Negative Peer Pressure  When you hear the words everybody's doing it.

How do you feel?

 These are usually words people use when they are using negative peer pressure.

 Negative peer pressure is what your friends or people around you make you do something that you really don’t want to do.

Manipulation  People sometimes pressure others through

manipulations– a dishonest way to control or influence someone.

 Manipulators may try to do the following:

Manipulation  Appeal to your courage- Say what are you a

chicken?  Appeal to your desire to belong- Com on

everyone's doing it.  Appeal to your guilt- Man, …I thought I could

count on you..

 True friends won’t make you do things you don’t want to do.

Bullying  Bullies pick on others as a way to gain

power, to get their way, or to feel important.

 Bullying can take many forms including  Gossiping  Teasing  And Physical Violence

Bullying  When bullies are using tactics to pressure others,

they are using negative peer pressure.   Sometimes appearing confident and telling the bully

to stop is enough to get the bully to stop.

Bullying  Other times, ignoring the bully will stop them.   If bullying gets out of hand, tell an adult.  Never bully back.   Fighting back just satisfies the bully and makes the

bullying worse.

Responding to Negative Peer Pressure   Standing up to negative peer pressure is one of the most

important skills you can learn.  May take a passive, assertive, or aggressive approach

  It’s never easy to say no to a group of friends when you want to be part of a group.

  You may be afraid of hurting someone's feelings or losing a friendship.

  You may fear being laughed at or excluded from things.

Dealing with Bullies Step 1 Restore your self-esteem. While you're developing a strategy for dealing with

bullies, remember your self-worth is of prime importance.

When you must walk away, use assertive language, defuse the bully.

Dealing with Bullies Step 2   Build friendships with others who share your interests.

  The buddy system is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from bullies because they typically have an aversion to groups.

  Connect with someone else and gain the support of a friend at the same time.

Dealing with Bullies   Step 3 Seek out the assistance of an adult.

Helps you realize you have resources that are available to you.

The behavior of bullies is unacceptable and you have every right to protect yourself from further mistreatment.

Bullying Poster (20 Points) •  List and define the different types of bullying (5

Points) •  Should include 5 facts or statements related to

bullying. (5 Points)] •  Drawings to go along with facts or statements. (5

Points) •  Must be neat and colorful. (5 Points)

Stop Bullying at LHS Bullying hurts my feelings

Bullying makes

me feel alone?

I  want  to  eat  in  the  cafeteria  with  the  rest  of  the  students.    

Let’s Get Our Books   Open your Books to page 160-161   Read the section on HOW TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF

  Answer these questions:

  1. What does prepare yourself mean?  2. How should you refuse to be

interrupted?

Bullying Video   What do you think about the video?

  Write one paragraph summary of how you feel about what you saw?

  Do you feel there is bullying at your High School?