Peer Pressure & Refusal Skills

1. Peer pressure Manipulation Refusal skills Passive Aggressive Assertive Peer Pressure & Refusal Skills

2. Peer Pressure • Impact what you think, feel, say and do. • The control and influence people your own age may have over you. • Way you respond to peer pressure has impact on the decisions you make.

3. Role Model • Influencing peers to take part in a positive act or worth while cause is a healthful way of influencing others. • Not limited to following or setting good examples of what to do • Provides examples of what not to do

4. Negative Peer Influence • Pressure to accept beliefs or take part in negative behaviors • Negative behaviors lead to negative consequences • Examples: stay out past curfew, or steal, commit crime or wrongful doing as an initiation for group

5. Manipulation • Sneaky or dishonest way to control or influence others • Does this to peers to get what he or she wants without respect or consideration of others.

6. Types of Manipulation • Mocking or teasing in mean or hurtful ways • Bargaining, or offering to make a deal to get what one wants • Bribing, or promising money or favors if person will do what is asked • Using guilt trips to get desired results • Make threats, using foul language to get results • Using blackmail or reveal private information

7. Responding to Negative Peer Pressure • People make requests and demands throughout your life. • How you respond can directly affect your mental, social, or physical health – even your life. • Passive way • Aggressive way • Assertive way

8. Passive Way • Giving up, giving in, or backing down without standing up for your own rights and needs. • Viewed by peers that they are pushovers and not worthy of much respect.

9. Aggressive Way • Overly forceful, pushy, hostile or otherwise attacking in approach • Saying no might involve punching, yelling shouting, insults, or displaying other kinds of physical or verbal force. • Aggressive people might think they will get their way and be seen as powerful and popular, usually backfires. • People either stay away from aggressors or jump in and fight back. • Hurts the aggressor emotionally and/or physically.

10. Assertive Way • Stand up for your own rights, in firm but positive ways • State your position, acknowledge the rights of the other people, stand your ground. • Do not bully or back away. • Directly and honestly state you case and show that you mean what you say. • Assertive people become role models for other teens. • Teens respect people who have the personal power to be true to who they really are.

11. Assertive Refusal Skills • State your position simply but firmly • Say No, then give honest reason why • “It goes against my values!” • that’s it – be honest not phony • Suggest alternatives to the behavior being proposed • Recommend better, safer options • Back up your words with actions. • Make it clear No means No. • Strong body language, clear voice, & eye contact • Go home, talk later, make new friends.