Communication
What is the difference between "hearing" and "listening"?
Hearing is just perceiving sound, while listening involves paying attention and understanding what is being said.
What is a boundary in a friendship?
A boundary is a limit that a person sets to protect their comfort and well-being in a relationship.
Name two unhealthy ways people might deal with conflict.
Ignoring the issue (avoidance) and yelling or name-calling (aggression).
Why is transparency important in maintaining trust in friendships?
Transparency means being open and honest about your feelings, actions, and intentions, which helps prevent misunderstandings and builds a solid foundation of trust.
What does it mean to "put yourself in someone else's shoes"?
It means imagining how someone else is feeling in a situation to better understand their perspective.
What are non-verbal cues, and why are they important in communication with friends?
Non-verbal cues include body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. They are important because they convey emotions and intentions beyond words.
Give an example of a healthy boundary you might set with a friend.
Asking for personal space when needed, or requesting privacy about certain topics.
How does compromising help resolve conflicts between friends?
Compromising allows both people to meet in the middle, ensuring that both sides feel heard and respected.
Explain how consistency contributes to building trust over time.
Consistent actions demonstrate reliability and dependability, proving that a friend can be trusted to act in supportive and honest ways repeatedly over time.
Why is it important to recognize your own feelings before responding to a friend’s emotions?
Recognizing your own feelings helps you respond more thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.
Name three active listening strategies that help improve communication in friendships.
Making eye contact, summarizing what the other person said, and asking clarifying questions.
Why is it sometimes hard to set boundaries with friends?
It can be difficult because we fear upsetting them, creating conflict, or being misunderstood.
What’s the difference between “compromise” and “giving in” during a conflict?
Compromise means both people adjust their expectations, while giving in means one person sacrifices their needs entirely.
What role does loyalty play in navigating friendships during challenging times?
Loyalty involves standing by a friend’s side during difficulties, even when it's inconvenient or challenging, showing them that you are committed to the relationship.
How can being too focused on your own emotions harm a friendship?
It can make you less aware of your friend’s needs and feelings, leading to selfish behavior.
How can misunderstandings happen even if both friends are trying to listen carefully?
Misunderstandings can occur because of differences in interpretation, tone, assumptions, or emotional state.
How can you tell when a boundary in a friendship has been crossed?
You may feel uncomfortable, disrespected, or like your feelings are being ignored.
What are the long-term consequences of unresolved conflicts in a friendship?
Unresolved conflicts can lead to growing resentment, emotional distance, and eventually the breakdown of the friendship.
How can lying damage trust between friends?
Lying breaks the expectation of honesty, making it difficult to rely on or believe the friend in the future.
Why is it important to validate a friend’s emotions, even if you don’t agree with their perspective?
Validating emotions shows that you respect their feelings, which strengthens trust and communication in the friendship.
How can a lack of assertiveness negatively affect communication in friendships?
Without assertiveness, you may fail to express your needs clearly, leading to frustration, resentment, or unbalanced power dynamics in the friendship.
What should you do if a friend doesn’t respect your boundaries?
Calmly remind them of your boundary and explain why it’s important. If they continue to disrespect it, you may need to reevaluate the friendship.
How can practicing emotional regulation during an argument improve the chances of reaching a resolution?
Emotional regulation helps keep emotions in check, preventing outbursts or impulsive statements, which makes it easier to communicate calmly and effectively.
What is one sign that a friendship has strong trust?
You feel comfortable being vulnerable with each other without fear of being judged or betrayed.
Explain how being empathetic can help strengthen friendships.
Empathy fosters deeper connections because it shows you care about how your friend feels and are willing to support them emotionally.