Health and Wellness Self-Esteem and Mental Health

1. Health and WellnessSelf-Esteem and Mental Health Using Good Communication Skills Chapter 3: Section 2 Pages 55-60 Adapted from Lifetime Health

2. ObjectivesBy the end of this lesson, students will have been able to do the following: • Summarize why good communication is important. • Differentiate between passive, assertive, and aggressive communication styles. • Name five characteristics of good listening skills. • List three examples of body language. • List five ways to improve your speaking skills. Adapted from Lifetime Health

3. Key Terms • Passive • Not offering opposition when challenged or pressured • Aggressive • Hostile and unfriendly in the way one expresses oneself • Assertive • Direct and respectful in the way one expresses oneself • Empathy • The ability to understand another person’s feelings, behaviors, and attitudes Adapted from Lifetime Health

4. Do Now • Draw or write an example of good and poor communication skills • Give your interpretation of the following quote: • “Words are the most potent drug mankind uses.” (-Rudyard Kipling) Adapted from Lifetime Health

5. Good Communication Is Important • Communication is the process through which two or more people exchange information. • Preventing Misunderstanding • Building Healthy Relationships • Expressing Yourself Adapted from Lifetime Health

6. Communication Styles • Passive • Does not offer opposition when challenged or pressured • Aggressive • To be hostile and unfriendly in the way one expresses oneself • Assertive • Express oneself in a direct, respectful way. Adapted from Lifetime Health

7. Speaking Skills • Voice Volume • How loud or soft you are speaking • Tone and Pitch • Inflections or emphasis in your voice (convey the attitude you are trying to express) • Empathy • The ability to understand another person’s feelings, behaviors, and attitudes. • “I” Messages and “You” Messages • An “I” message is a way of talking that explains how you feel while remaining firm, calm, and polite (express feelings without blaming: how & why) Adapted from Lifetime Health

8. The Wright Family Listening Activity • Left • Right http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHI/training/10-Resources/docs/WrightFamily.pdf http://www.learnerslink.com/right_and_left.htm Adapted from Lifetime Health

9. Listening Skills • Communication includes not only sending messages but also receiving messages or listening. • Active Listening • Letting the speaker know you are listening and clarifying anything that is confusing. • Paraphrasing • Using your own words to restate what someone else said. Adapted from Lifetime Health

10. Body Language • Nonverbal communication • Facial expression • Gestures • Posture Adapted from Lifetime Health

11. Passive Body Language signals • Posture • Slumped, shoulders forward, shifting often, chin down, sitting with legs entwined • Gestures • Fluttering hands, twisting motions, shoulders shrugs, and frequent head nodding • Facial expression • Lifted eyebrows, pleading look, wide-eyed, rapid blinking, nervous or guilty smile, chewing lower lip, showing anger with averted eyes, blushing, and guilty look • Voice • Quiet, soft, higher pitch, uhs, ahs, hesitations, stopping in “midstream” nervous laughter, statements sound like questions with voice tone rising at the end Adapted from Lifetime Health

12. Assertive Body Language Signals • Posture • Erect but relaxed, Shoulders straight, Few shifts, comfortable, Head straight or slight tilt, Sitting: legs together or crossed • Gestures • Casual hand movements, Relaxed hands, Hands open, Palms out, Occasional head nodding • Facial Expression • Relaxed, thoughtful, caring or concerned look, few blinks, genuine smile, relaxed mouth, show anger with flashing eyes, serious look, slight flush of color • Voice • Resonant, firm, pleasant, smooth, even-flowing, comfortable delivery, laughter only with humor, voice tones stay even when making statement Adapted from Lifetime Health

13. Aggressive Body Language Signals • Posture • Erect, tense, rigid, shoulders back, jerky shifts or planted in place, chin up or thrust forward, sitting: heels on desk, hands behind head or tensely leaning forward • Gesture • Chopping or jabbing with hands, clenched hands or pointing, sweeping arms, sharp, quick nods • Facial Expression • Furrowed brow, tight jaw, tense look, unblinking glare, patronizing or sarcastic smile, tight lips, shows anger with disapproving scowl, very firm mouth or barred teeth, extreme flush • Voice • Steely quiet or loud, harsh “biting off” words, precise measured delivery sarcastic laughter statements sound like orders or pronouncements Adapted from Lifetime Health

14. Closure • How can relationships be improved by good communication? • How are “I” messages different from “you” messages? • Make a list of three aggressive statements. Then change the aggressive statements to assertive statements. Adapted from Lifetime Health

15. Works Cited • Images. Retrieved on March 10, 2006 from http://www.images.google.com • Friedman, D. P., Stine, C.C., and Whalen, S. (2004). Lifetime Health. Austin, Texas: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Adapted from Lifetime Health