HECMA Program

Friendships and Peer Pressure

Ms. Sandra Gorman

Friends are important

WHY?

What are the benefits of friendship?

Friendships can help you learn social skills

Friendship: a relationship with someone you know, trust and regard with affection

Helps you to communicate, work out problems, compromise, share your life, give others support and consider their feelings.

Acquaintance: someone you see occasionally or know casually. In time, they can become your close friends.

Traits of a good friend

Trust: based on honesty, share your thoughts honestly, trust good friends to support you in tough times

Caring: true friends care about each other’s well-being. Listen and understand how you feel. They recognise your strengths and help you to build on them. They accept you as you are

Traits of a good friend

Respect: friends may not share all the same beliefs but that’s ok. Good friends respect each others differences and treat each other as equals. They won’t ask you to do anything that could hurt you or put you in danger. They won’t expect you to act against your values.

Loyalty: true friends stay together in good times and bad. They support each other and forgive mistakes. A loyal friend will not let others say untrue or mean things about you

Building friendships Some people make friends easily while

others find it more difficult.

Making new friends can be easier when you join groups who have interests similar to yours.

You can build stronger friendships through tolerance.

Tolerance: the ability to accept other people as they are. Be respectful of a person’s individual differences, race or culture.

Knowing when to compromise

When disagreements happen, friends are willing to compromise.

Compromise: when both sides in a conflict agree to give up something in order to reach a solution that satisfies everyone

Friends may need some compromise on what to do when they are together or when they want others to join their social circle.

They may need to find a way to meet in the middle when they disagree.

When to compromise? Compromise is the answer for many

disagreements, but sometimes it is not the best choice.

For example: you should never compromise when you would have to act against your values or when you might end up harming yourself or others

If a friend asks you to do something you know is unlawful or wrong, you should always be firm and say no!

Peer pressure Peers: people close to you in AGE who are a

lot like you

Sometimes teens worry about what their friends think about them.

Peer pressure: your friends’ opinions can affect how you act. The influence that your peer group has on you.

Negative peer pressureFriends should not pressure you to do something that is unhealthy or unsafe, or that goes against your family’s values.

Negative peer pressure can take many forms

Acting in a harmful or illegal way

Bribes

Dares

Threats

Teasing & name calling

Recognise negative peer pressure

H.E.L.P. H: Healthful

E: Ethical – doing the right thing

L: Legal - follow the laws and rules

P: Parent approval

If what your friends are asking you to do doesn’t fit the criteria, don’t go

along.

Resisting negative peer pressure

This is a skill you can learn

1. Avoid the situation

2. Use assertive responses: Say NO! This is a response that declares your position strongly and confidently

3. Focus on the issue

4. Walk away

Careers: Social Worker

Social workers help people deal with a wide range of problems, including family relationships, unemployment and serious illness.

As the population gets older, more social workers who specialize in helping older people will be needed.

You can prepare for a career in social work by taking sociology, family & consumer science and psychology courses.

Positive Peer Pressure PPP

Your friends give positive peer pressure when they suggest you do the right thing.

Encourage you to study more

Become a volunteer

Welcome new people into the group

Help you to say NO to risky behaviour

PPP is good for you. It can improve your health & safety and help you feel better about yourself.

Vocabulary1. Friendship: a relationship with someone

you know, trust and regard with affection

2. Acquaintance: someone you see occasionally or know casually

3. Tolerance: the ability to accept other people as they are

4. Compromise: when both sides in a conflict agree to give up something in order to reach a solution that satisfies everyone

Vocabulary

Peers: people close to you in AGE who are a lot like you

Peer pressure: your friends’ opinions can affect how you act.

Assertive response: Say NO! This is a response that declares your position strongly and confidently

Social worker: help people deal with problems – family relationship, unemployment & serious illness.