Peer Pressure
What is peer pressure?
When people your age influence you to do something
What is bullying?
Repeated or serious behavior that hurts, scares, embarrasses, or excludes someone
What is Friendship?
A relationship where both people enjoy interacting and choose to spend time together.
Name one way you can start a conversation with someone.
Say hello, introduce yourself, ask a question, or make a comment about something you both may be interested in.
What is rejection?
When someone does not accept an invitation, request, idea, or friendship.
You already said no, but your friend keeps asking, “Come on, just this once!” What can you do?
Give an assertive refusal, such as “I said no,” change the subject, or walk away.
A group keeps making jokes about your glasses after you say, “Please stop.” Is this teasing or bullying? Why?
Bullying, because the behavior continues after the person has asked them to stop.
Name two behaviors you might see in a healthy friendship.
Respecting “no,” including each other, listening, taking turns, supporting each other, allowing other friendships, or solving problems together
Why is it important to ask questions when talking to a friend?
It shows interest and helps you learn more about the other person and keep the conversation going.
Name one way you can respectfully end or change a friendship.
Take some space, spend less time together, set a boundary, or clearly and kindly say you don't want to continue the friendship
Your friends say, “Everyone else is doing it. You’re the only one scared.” How could you respond?
Stay with your boundary and respond assertively, such as, “No thanks, I’ll pass,” or “I’m not comfortable with that.”
What is one big difference between teasing and bullying?
Teasing is meant to be playful and stops when asked to stop. Bullying is meant to hurt and may continue after someone says stop.
Put these friendship levels in order: friend, stranger, close friend, acquaintance.
Stranger → Acquaintance → Friend → Close Friend
What does it mean to have a shared interest with someone?
You both like or enjoy some of the same things, such as games, sports, shows, music, or activities.
Someone says, “I need some space.” What should you do?
Respect the boundary and give the person space without arguing, pressuring, or repeatedly asking
What are the two types of peer influence?
Positive and negative. Positive influence can encourage healthy or helpful choices, while negative influence can encourage rule-breaking, teasing, or excluding others.
What are the four types of bullying?
Physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying
What does it mean when a friendship is “mutual”?
Both people are participating in the friendship.
Your friend is talking about something you aren't interested in. What can you do to still be a good friend?
Listen, ask a question, let the friend finish, or politely help move the conversation to another topic
A friend tells you they don't want to be friends anymore. Name two healthy ways you could respond.
Accept the decision, give yourself time, talk to someone you trust, connect with other people, or do something you enjoy
Someone says, “If you were really my friend, you would do it.” What type of peer pressure are they using?
Guilt. They are trying to make you feel bad so you will do what they want.
You see someone being bullied. Name two safe things you can do to help.
Get a trusted adult, redirect the situation if safe, support/check on the person, or invite the person to join you. Do not physically confront the bully.
Two people disagree about what they want to do. Does that automatically mean their friendship is unhealthy? Explain why or why not.
No. Friends can disagree, get annoyed, want different things, make mistakes, or need space. What matters is how they respond afterward.
You and a friend disagree about what to do. Name two things you can do to solve the problem and keep the friendship healthy.
Talk calmly, listen to each other, compromise, take turns, respect boundaries, or find something you both agree on
You keep getting left out by the same group even after you've politely asked to join. What should you do next?
Stop repeatedly asking the group, talk to a trusted adult, and look for other people or activities that share your interests.