Peer Pressure / Refusal Skills

Health Class

Reminders• Take out your Peer Pressure and

Refusal Skills notes from last Friday. • Take the first 10 minutes of class to

finish answering the scenarios of what you would do in each situation.

Getting Started

Class Objectives• Identify four refusal skills, either verbal or

non-verbal• Explain why planning ahead is a good way

to avoid risky situations• Explain why developing a support system

can help you deal with peer pressure.

Starter

Scenario - • You spent a lot of time on your homework assignment for history

class last night. • Your best friend didn’t do their homework last night because they

were watching TV.• They ask you in first period to copy your assignment.• Your friend does this all the time with different people. • You know this is cheating and you don’t want to share your work. • What do you do?

Peer Pressure

• Peers are groups of people that are the same age and/or in the same situation.• Peer pressure is the influence to

go along with the beliefs and actions of your peers.

Peer Pressure

• Positive peer pressures inspire you to something worthwhile. • For example: • You may have acting talent but

afraid to try out for the play. Pressure from your friends may encourage you to audition for the play.

Peer Pressure• Positive peer pressure uses

encouraging words and expressions. • As you continue to grow through

your teen years you become more independent and make more decisions on your own. • Having positive peer influences

will help give you support and more confidence to make healthy choices.

Peer Pressure

• Negative peer pressure is when you feel that people are trying to get you to do something that could hurt you or others.• It could be something dangerous

or illegal, or something you are just not ready for, or something that goes against your values or family values.

Peer Pressure

• Some examples of negative peer pressures could be:• Stealing• Cheating• Lying• Using drugs or alcohol• Showing disrespect for others

Peer Pressure• It is important to understand

how tactics for negative peer pressure.• Negative peer pressure involves

the following tactics:• Threats• Bribes• Teasing• Name-calling• Gossip• Facial expressions

Assignment #1

• Write about a time when you did not give into peer pressure. • Describe the experience

• People• Place• Activity

• What did you do?• What was the outcome?

Refusal Skills

• Saying no to someone you like is very difficult. • Even best friends sometimes

challenge us to do things that are not good for us and goes against our personal values.• This is why you need to have

good refusal skills.

Refusal Skills

• Refusal skills are different ways of saying no to things that you don’t want to do.• You need to use the STOP steps.

Refusal Skills

• S = Say “NO” in a Firm Voice• Be polite

• You don’t need to say anything rude – just say ‘no’

• Be clear• Make sure they understand that you really

mean ‘no’

• Make eye contact• Be firm

• Use a firm voice and tone

• Repeat yourself• If they don’t get the hint the first time – keep

saying it over and over again

Refusal Skills

• T = Tell Why Not• Explain what is wrong with the situation

Examples:• That is cheating• I don’t like how that makes me feel• You are being rude / bully and that is not OK• This goes against our family rules

• Be true to your beliefs and values• Keep your values and beliefs intact• Don’t give in or change to met the needs of

others or the group

Refusal Skills

• O = Offer Other Ideas• Try to interest the other person in doing

something else with which you’re comfortable.

• Make sure that your suggestion take you away from the risky situation.

Refusal Skills

• P = Promptly Leave • You don’t have to be in a situation that

you don’t want to be in• By walking away, your action swill match

your words• Walking away also takes you out having

continued pressures• It leads down the healthier path

Refusal Skills

• The best way to avoid peer pressure is to plan ahead. • Don’t put yourself in risky

situations• Know your personal values• Know where you are going and

who else is going to be there• Know the activity• Make sure adults are around and

know what is going on

Refusal Skills

• Have a plan of how to get out of unhealthy situations• Have friends with the same values

who will stick by you• Talk with your parents on how

they can help if you find yourself faced with negative peer pressure• Use the STOP refusal skills

Refusal Skills

• Another way to avoid unhealthy situations is to have a support system. • A support system is made up of

family members and friends who will stand by you and will encourage you when times get hard

Assignment # 2

• With your partner come up with healthy ways to deal with each of the different scenarios listed. • Remember what you have

learned about healthy choices, values, peer pressure, and refusal skills.

Health Class

Reminders• Take out your Peer Pressure and

Refusal Skills notes from last Friday. • Take the first 15 minutes of class to

finish answering the scenarios of what you would do in each situation.• Remember to use full and complete

sentences and explain your answers well.

Getting Started

• If you did not take the Human Sexuality Test on Tuesday last week you will need to take it online.

Class Objectives• Identify four refusal skills, either verbal or

non-verbal• Explain why planning ahead is a good way

to avoid risky situations• Explain why developing a support system

can help you deal with peer pressure.

What Would You Do?

1. A group of friends are talking at lunch. One begins to talk about another classmate who is overweight, using put-down to describe him/her.

2. The person who sits behind you keeps poking you in the back with an eraser.

3. In gym, a kid is bragging about what a great athlete he/she is, and making fun of other kids who don’t do as well.

What Would You Do?

4. You have been going out lately with a group of friends who have started using drugs. They say they respect your values of not using but call you names when you refuse.

5. You see your best friend cheating on the math test. You know if they don’t get a good grade on the test they won’t be able to play basketball for the team.

6. Your best friend calls you over while walking down the hall. They show a picture on their cell phone of another student changing in the locker room. You can tell that the person didn’t know their picture was being taken.

What Would You Do?

7. Your parents have told you can’t date until you are 16. A high school student has asked you out. You are flattered and really want to go. When you tell him your family rules, they tell you to make up a story so your parents will let you out of house and to meet up with him at the mall.

8. You get to go on your first date. You really like the boy who asked you out. After the movie you go for a drive to look at the lights of the city. Once you are there, your date starts to come on to you too quickly and makes you very uncomfortable. You feel like you have given the signals that you don’t want his advancements, but he just won’t stop.

Quick Check

1. All peer pressure is negative and bad. True / False2. Write in the STOP steps• S =• T=• O=• P=

3. Give an example of someone you know that can be part of your support system for you. Explain how they are able to help you refuse negative peer pressure situations.

Quick Check

1. All peer pressure is negative and bad. True / False2. Write in the STOP steps• S = Say “no” in a firm voice• T= Tell them why• O= Offer other options• P= Promptly leave

3. Give an example of someone you know that can be part of your support system for you. Explain how they are able to help you refuse negative peer pressure situations. Answers may vary