Social Skills
What is one way to show someone you are listening?
Eye contact, respond to what they say at the appropriate time, listen without interrupting, nod, face them.
What is a personal boundary?
A limit you set about how you want to be treated or what you are comfortable with.
What information should you think carefully about before posting online? Name two examples.
Address, school/location, phone number, passwords, personal information, live location, etc.
True or False: Peer pressure only happens when someone directly tells you to do something.
False. Peer pressure can be direct or indirect. You might feel pressure simply because of what you see other people doing or what you think they expect from you.
You are talking with a friend when they suddenly say, “You're not listening to me.” You were listening but were distracted by something happening nearby.
What is the best response?
A. “Yes, I was. You just weren't paying attention.”
B. “Whatever, I'm done talking.”
C. “I'm sorry it seemed that way. Can you tell me what made you feel like I wasn't listening?”
D. “You're being too sensitive.”
C — It avoids becoming defensive, validates their perspective, and opens the door to clarification.
In CBT, what are the three parts of the basic cycle?
Thoughts → feelings → behaviors.
You tell someone, “Please don't joke about my family.” They respond, “Relax, I'm just joking.” What is the problem with their response?
They are dismissing your boundary instead of respecting it. Their intention doesn't erase the impact their behavior has on you.
Someone online says, “Don't tell your parents or anyone else about our conversations. They wouldn't understand.” Why is this a red flag?
Encouraging secrecy—especially from trusted adults—is a warning sign. Healthy relationships generally don't require secrecy to protect the relationship.
Your friends start making fun of someone, and everyone expects you to join in. You don't want to participate.
Question: What are two ways you could handle the situation?
Possible answers:
You realize that you misunderstood something your friend said and reacted angrily before asking what they meant.
What is the best response?
A. Pretend it didn't happen.
B. Explain that they should have worded it better.
C. “I realize I misunderstood what you meant. I reacted before I had all the information, and I'm sorry.”
D. Blame the situation because you were already stressed.
Answer: C — It takes responsibility without excessive self-blame.
CBT: A friend doesn't respond to your messages for several hours. Give a balanced thought that is more realistic than “They hate me.”
Ex: “I don't know why they haven't responded. There could be many reasons, and I can wait before assuming the worst.”
Someone repeatedly ignores a boundary you've clearly communicated. Name two things you could do next.
Repeat the boundary, create distance, leave the situation, involve a trusted adult, block/mute the person online, or seek support.
Someone you know from school sends you a DM from an account you don't recognize. They say, “It's me—I made a new account because my old one got hacked.” What should you do before trusting the account?
Verify their identity through another trusted method, such as contacting them through their known account or in person. Don't click suspicious links or share personal information.
Your friends aren't asking you to do anything dangerous. However, they constantly make fun of people who don't participate in their activities.
Question: Can this still be peer pressure? Why?
Yes. Fear of being mocked, rejected, or excluded can pressure someone to conform even without a direct request.
A friend tells you, “You always make everything about yourself.” You feel defensive because you don't think that's true.
What is the best response?
A: “That's not true. You make everything about yourself.”
B: “You're wrong, and I'm not discussing this.”
C: “Fine. I guess I’m just a terrible friend.”
D: “I don’t see it that way, but I’m willing to hear what I did that made you feel that way.”
D — It doesn't automatically accept the accusation, but it remains open to feedback.
You walk into a room and two people stop talking. You immediately think, “They were talking about me.” Give three alternative explanations.
They could have been discussing something private, changing topics, talking about someone else, or simply stopping because you entered.
You set a boundary with someone, but they become angry. Does their anger automatically mean your boundary was unreasonable? Explain.
No. Someone can be disappointed, frustrated, or angry about a boundary while the boundary is still reasonable and healthy.
You receive a message saying:
“URGENT! Your account will be permanently deleted in 10 minutes. Click this link and enter your password to verify your identity.”
Name three red flags.
Urgency, fear/threats, a request for a password, and an unexpected link. It could be phishing.
Your friends convince you to do something you originally didn't want to do. Afterwards, you feel relieved that they accepted you but also feel uncomfortable about what happened.
Question: What might this tell you about the decision?
The decision may have been driven more by the desire to fit in or avoid rejection than by what you genuinely wanted.
You are having a disagreement through text. You notice that both of you are misunderstanding each other's messages.
What is the best response?
A. Suggest talking in person or by phone because texting isn't working well for the conversation.
B. Send a longer message explaining your point.
C. Keep texting until someone gives in.
D. Screenshot the conversation and ask your friends who is right.
Answer: A — Changing the communication method can reduce misunderstandings and escalation.
You believe, “If someone is upset with me, it means I've done something wrong.”
Why might this belief cause problems in relationships?
It can lead to over-apologizing, people-pleasing, excessive reassurance-seeking, difficulty setting boundaries, or taking responsibility for other people's emotions.
Two friends have conflicting boundaries. One wants to talk about problems immediately; the other needs several hours of space before talking. Is one person's boundary automatically more important?
Not necessarily. Both people can have valid needs. They can negotiate a solution that respects both boundaries, such as taking a break and agreeing on a time to talk.
Your friend says, “I only share my location with my close friends, so it's completely safe.”
What are two questions they should consider before sharing their location?
Who can actually access the information, and whether the location reveals something sensitive such as their home, school, routine, or current whereabouts.
You know you can say no, but you're worried that doing so will make your friends think you're boring.
Question: What is the difference between choosing to fit in and being pressured to fit in?
Choosing to participate because you genuinely want to is different from participating because you're afraid of rejection, embarrassment, or losing friendships.
You see a post accusing a student at your school of doing something serious. The post has hundreds of comments, and people are arguing about whether it's true.
What is the best response?
A. Share it so people can decide for themselves.
B. Add your opinion based on what you've heard.
C. Avoid spreading an unverified accusation and consider reporting harmful content if appropriate.
D. Ask the person who posted it for more gossip.
Answer: C — Popularity and lots of comments don't make information accurate.