Influence
What does it mean to influence someone?
Influence means you have the ability to affect someone's thoughts, feelings, decisions, or actions.
Your friend groups convinces you to try out for a new club because they think you'd enjoy it.
Positive.
Your friend asks you to join a group chat and then sends you a private message encouraging you to make fun of another person in the chat.
I could avoid participating or I could tell my friend I am not comfortable making fun of anyone.
I could also take a screenshot, leave the chat and tell a trusted adult what happened.
Come on everyone is doing it.
Pressure
What quality makes a good leader influential?
Trustworthiness, empathy, confidence, respect, self-control, good communication.
Name one person or group that can influence your decisions.
Friends, Parents/family, Teachers, Social media, Celebrities and more.
Your friend group convinces you and others to leave another student out and tries to isolate them during recess, and lunch.
Negative
You notice a new friend sitting alone. A friend does not want you to invite them over. What do you do?
I could let my friend know I think we should invite them over.
Take the lead and invite the new student over.
Try to make the new student feel as welcome as possible.
You should try out for the team. I think you'd be great!
Influence
How can an athlete influence their teammates?
By being a good sport, encouraging others, taking responsibility, including other's and much more.
What is the difference between influence and control?
Influence is affecting someone's choice and control is taking away someone's choice.
Your teammate reminds everyone to encourage a player who made a mistake.
You see a friend making a decision that could get them in trouble. How could you use your influence?
I would talk to the and explain why I think their choice may get them in trouble.
I could suggest another choice while encouraging them to think about the consequences.
I could be a non-judgmental listening ear.
If you're really my friend you'll do it.
Pressure
How can a teacher influence their students beyond academics?
A teacher can influence students beyond academics by being a positive role model, building their confidence, and teaching skills like empathy, responsibility, and perseverance.
Give an example of a neutral influence.
Introducing someone to a new song.
Getting a friend interested in a sport.
Influencing someone's clothing or food preference.
Someone tell's their friend "If you don't do this we are not friends anymore".
Negative
Everyone in your friend group starts to say something unkind about another student. You disagree with them. How could you respond without starting a fight or arguing?
You could say, "I don't feel comfortable talking about them like that".
You could also say, "I don't think that fair to say about them".
( Practice self-control and do not get pulled into an argument.
Explain one difference between healthy influence and unhealthy peer pressure.
Unhealthy peer pressure makes you feel pressured in a way that you have less freedom to choose. (There is a negative consequence implied "If you don't then".)
Healthy influence encourages but also gives you a choice. ( "You should join art club. I think you'd be great!).
What makes someone influential even if they are not famous?
A person does not need to be famous to be influential.
Someone can be influential without being famous because their actions, words, and relationships can affect the people around them.
Why might someone listen to a person they trust more than a person they don't trust?
Trust can make someone's influence stronger because you are more willing to listen when you believe the person is honest, respectful, and has your best interests in mind.
A student notices their friend group is making fun someone and says, " I am not okay with this".
Positive
You are the leader of a group project but you can see that two people are not participating. How could you influence them without bossing them around?
Ask them if they are okay and if there is something they do not understand about the project.
Give them a specific job or even ask them what part of the project they would like to work on.
( communicate with empathy, respect, and self control)
Turn this situation into an opportunity to positively influence others.
He is so weird, I do not see why anyone would want to hang out with him.
"I don't think it is fair to judge him. We should maybe get to know him before deciding what he is like. Maybe we could chat with him during recess".
Can a fictional character influence someone's behavior?
Yes.
Fictional character can influence behavior because people may admire them or learn from their choices or experiences.