Bell Ringer Open your student workbook and turn to page 67. Under the heading Journal Entry, write a few short sentences explaining a dating relationship you or someone you know is in or has been in that you think is a healthy relationship. What qualities or things about the relationship make it healthy?

Unit 2: Violence & Injury Prevention Lesson 8 – Preventing Dating Violence

Healthy Behavior Outcomes Avoiding engaging in violence, including sexual harassment, coercion, exploitation, physical fighting and rape. Get help to address inappropriate touching.

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Lesson Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Summarize the qualities of a healthy dating relationship. Describe warning signs of dating violence. Analyze how power and control differences in dating relationships can contribute to violence. Explain why it’s wrong to coerce another person into having sex. Explain why a person who has been sexually assaulted or raped is not at fault.

Do you think teens, both male and female, need to be concerned about violence in their dating relationships? Why or why not?

In what ways could dating partners physically abuse each other? In what ways could dating partners emotionally or psychologically abuse each other? In what ways could dating partners sexually abuse each other?

Summary All of these forms of dating violence are about controlling or hurting another person. They don’t have anything to do with caring, love or sexual desire.

Do you think people have the right to expect sex from someone they are dating?

Summary It is very important to understand that a person always has the right to refuse sexual contact or activities. It is wrong and illegal to force another person to have sex. It is also important to recognize that a person who has been raped or sexually assaulted is never at fault.

Green – Yellow – Red Example of relationships and analyze the risk of dating violence. Decide where it fits on the spectrum: Green = if the relationship seems to have healthy qualities Yellow = if you think there could be dating violence in the future of the relationship and one or both people need to be cautious going forward Red = if you think you see strong warning signs or actual dating violence in the relationship

Healthy vs Unhealthy If you placed your scenario under the green column, what qualities about the relationship seemed healthy to you? If you placed your scenario under the red column, what qualities about the relationship seemed unhealthy and dangerous to you? If you placed your scenario under the yellow column, what qualities of the relationship made you put it there? Would you say these things were unhealthy qualities? Were there other qualities described about the relationship that seemed healthy?

Summary Dating violence is less likely to happen in healthy dating relationships. It is more likely to happen in unhealthy dating relationships.

How do you think issues of power and control relate to healthy and unhealthy relationships? What role do power and control play in dating violence?

Summary When partners struggle for power in the relationship or want to control the other person, violence is more likely. In a healthy relationship, the people share the power: They listen to each other They respect each other’s opinions They make decisions together If one partner tries to force his or her ideas or desires on the other, wants to make all the decisions, or becomes upset if the other person doesn’t do what he or she wants, the relationship is unhealthy.

Based on the qualities of a healthy dating relationship, why is it wrong to trick, threaten or pressure another person into having sex?

Summary Sharing control over decisions that affect the relationship means that neither partner will force or pressure the other to do something he or she doesn’t want to do. In a healthy relationship, the partners trust and respect each other. It’s wrong to violate this trust and respect by tricking or manipulating a partner. Partners can’t feel safe or comfortable in the relationship if either one uses threats or force against the other.

Why do you think some teens resort to violence in their dating relationships? Why do you think some teens allow themselves to be abused by the person who is suppose to care about them?

Summary There are many reasons behind dating violence, for both perpetrators and targets. It is very important to remember that nobody ever deserves or asks to be a target of dating violence-no matter what the circumstances are.

Why do you think teens might stay in a violent or abusive dating relationship? What could get in the way of getting help?

Summary The choice to get help for or leave a violent dating relationship can be a hard one to make. The longer an abusive relationship goes on the stronger the barriers to getting help might become. Fear of losing the relationship or the hope that things will change can keep someone in denial about the abuse.

Why is it important for teens who are victims of dating violence to get help?

Summary Dating violence is serious and can have severe consequences. Teens who are emotionally abused in a dating relationship may feel afraid, lose confidence in themselves, or become anxious or depressed. Physical abuse can lead to severe or life-threatening injuries, or even murder. Rape, pregnancy, and STDs can result from sexual abuse. Being in an abusive dating relationship as a teen can set up unhealthy patterns that continue throughout a person’s life.

What was the most interesting thing you learned during this lesson?