PEER PRESSURE & REFUSAL SKILLS Do now: Make a list of things that influence your behavior.

WHAT IS PEER PRESSURE? Peer pressure is a feeling that you should do something because that is what your friends want. Family can also influence your behaviors and decisions. Can be positive or negative.

POSITIVE VS. NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE Positive Having positive role models and being influenced to improve yourself. EG: A friend decides to go out for the basketball team, you decide to go out for the team too. Negative Being pressured to do something you do not want to do is not healthy. Some consequences can be serious. EG: A friend is trying to get you to smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs.

TYPES OF PRESSURE Direct – The pressure you feel from someone who tries to convince you to do something you wouldn't normally do. Indirect – The pressure that results from being swayed to do something because people you look up to are doing it.

DIRECT VS. INDIRECT PRESSURE Direct Pressure Teasing Persuasion Explanations Put-downs Threats Bribery Indirect Pressure TV Radio Advertising Role Models Popular/Famous people

HOW TO RESPOND TO PRESSURE? A Refusal skill is a strategy to avoid doing something you do not want to. This is used when someone is putting pressure on you to do something you do not want to do. There are 12 refusal skill.

REFUSAL SKILLS Blame someone else – ‘I told my brother I would help him move.’ Give a reason – ‘ My dad said he would give me $20 if I helped clean the garage.’ Ignore the request/pressure – Pretend that you do not hear them. Refuse to talk about it. Leave the situation – ‘I’ve got to go. I am running late’

REFUSAL SKILLS Say ‘no thanks’ – ‘No thanks, I’m not interested.’ Say no, and mean it – ‘NO WAY, THAT STUFF IS NOT FOR ME!!’ Keep saying no – ‘How many times do I have to say no? Stop bugging me.’ Make an excuse – ‘No, I am not feeling well.’

REFUSAL SKILLS Suggest something else to do – ‘Let’s go see a movie instead.’ Make a joke out of it – ‘Haha, good one, we would never do that.’ Change the subject – ‘Did you see the football game last night?’ Team up with someone – Ask people who share you values to help. Many voices are better than one.

ACT IT OUT!! 1.Get groups of 5 (that I assign). 2.Write a skit practicing the refusal skill that I assign. 3.Everyone must talk in the skit 4.ACT IT OUT!!!