1. Peer Pressure &
Refusal skills

2. What is peer pressure
The influence to go along with the beliefs and actions of other people of your age.
Direct pressure takes the form of words or actions directed towards you.
Indirect pressure is more subtle but is a form of peer pressure. Ex: People at your school may be wearing a specific shoe style. Maybe you want to go out to buy those shoes, too, because you think you will fit in with everyone else if you wear them.

3. Positive and negative pressure
Positive Peer Pressure
This can inspire you to do something positive.
Positive Peer Pressure can influence you to do better in school or to participate in after school activities
Negative Peer Pressure
This can pressure you to do something that could hurt you or other, or get you into trouble.
Negative peer pressure can negatively affect your performance at school, your health, and your future.

4. What are refusal skills?
Refusal Skills are communication strategies that help you say no effectively.
They help you avoid doing things that you do not want to do without feeling uncomfortable about your decisions.
Using refusal skills, you stand up for your values, which builds self-respect.

5. S.T.O.P. SAY NO IN A FIRM VOICE TELL WHY NOT OFFER OTHER IDEAS
PROMPTLY LEAVE

6. Types of refusal skills
Say no
Explain
Suggest alternatives
Leave
Repeating
Change the subject
Humor/sarcasm

7. Saying “no” Speak loud and clear
Use body language to back up the word “no”
Plant your feet and square your shoulders

8. Explain Explain why you don’t want to try or do something
Be clear when explaining
“it goes against my morals”
“I have to take a drug test for the football game on Friday”

9. SUGGESTING ALTERNATIVES
By thinking of something better to do, you offer everyone an “out”
People get into trouble when they are bored and don’t have alternatives

10. Leave Simply remove yourself from the situation
With you leading the way, others who feel uncomfortable will follow

11. repeating
Sometimes it takes saying “no” more than once, on more than one occasion
Just because someone asks more than once doesn’t mean you have to cave

12. Change the subject
Say “no” and follow it by quickly changing the subject.
Example:
Tom says to Jim, “why don’t we go to my parents house and raid the liquor cabinet while they’re away?!”
Jim says to Tom, “I don’t think so but hey, what about that football game last night?! Can you believe the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl? Talk about East meets West!”

13. Humor/sarcasm
Sometimes humor is the best way to respond to a situation, as it can lighten a serious mood
It can also divert attention away from you and onto something else.

14. When you may experience peer pressure
Food, sex, drugs, alcohol, skipping, fighting, gangs, cheating.