Peer Pressure

1
Peer Pressure

• How to deal with it!

2
Peer Pressure

• Rejecting or accepting suggestions and opinions
  from people your age

3
Skill Steps

• Recognize when someone is attempting to pressure
  you into doing something
• Decide whether it is something you feel
  comfortable doing and if it is appropriate
• Reject or accept the pressure in a confident
  manner

4
When you deal with peer pressure appropriately

• You may avoid getting into trouble
• You may develop a more positive reputation
• You may stay healthier
• You may get involved in a positive activity you
  normally wouldnt have known about
• You may have a stronger, more positive self image

5
Peer Pressure can be Positive or Negative

• Your friends can be a good influence on you
• Your friends are trying to convince you to
  exercise with them
• A friend is trying to convince to try the extra
  credit project
• A friend is trying to talk you out of skipping
  class
• Saying yes to positive pressure can be hard if it
  is something you have never done before.

6
Peer Pressure can be Positive or Negative

• Negative pressure is when people try to make you
  do things that make you feel uncomfortable
• A friend is trying to pressure you to steal
• A friend is trying to pressure you to cheat on a
  test
• Serious trouble can happen when teenagers give in
  to negative peer pressure

7
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Bottom Line
• State your bottom line. Just state No, I do not
  want to. No reasons need to be given. May need
  to repeat it!
• Example
• Mike Here, drink this, its alcohol
• Lee No, thanks. I dont want any.
• Mike Dont be a baby, come on!
• Lee No thanks, I dont want any
• Mike You baby! Just a little.
• Lee No, thanks. I dont want any.

8
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Offensive
• Say something that will put some pressure back
  on the other person.
• Example
• Mike Here, have a drink, Its alcohol.
• Lee No, thanks. I dont want any.
• Mike Dont be a chicken, come on!
• Lee Get off my back. Why are you pressuring
  me?
• Mike OK already. Calm down.

9
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Compromise
• Give another idea you both can be happy with.
• Example
• Mike Here, drink this, its alcohol
• Lee No, but I will have a soda.
• Mike Oh, all right

10
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Discussion Stop
• Dont discuss the idea any further
• Example
• Mike Here, drink this, its alcohol
• Lee No, thanks.
• Mike Dont be a baby, come on!
• Lee I am not talking about it anymore.
• Mike Aw, come on.
• Lee Walks away

11
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Humor
• Say something funny. Sometimes this can
  change the subject too.
• Example
• Mike Here, drink this, its alcohol
• Lee Oh, didnt you hear? Drinking alcohol
  causes acne.
• Mike Yeah, right

12
Strategies to help you respond to negative peer
pressure

• The Reason
• Tell the reason why you wont.
• Example
• Mike Here, drink this, its alcohol
• Lee No, thanks. If I get caught drinking, My
  parents will take away my computer.
• Mike Youre kidding.
• Lee No, and I dont think theyre kidding
  either.

13
Negative Pressure TacticsThink of How You Would
Respond?

• Begging (Please? Come on, Please?)
• Offering a bribe (Ill give you 5 if you do)
• Saying you owe them
• Making threats (If you dont, watch your back)
• Giving the silent treatment or pouting

14
Negative Pressure TacticsThink of How You Would
Respond?

• Saying everyone does it (Everyones going)
• Giving a putdown (Youre such a baby)
• Sensationalizing (Youve got to try this, this is
  great)
• Minimizing risk (Theres no way well get caught)
• Reminding you that youve done it before
• (Come on, skip class with us. Last year you did
  it all the time)

15
Dealing with Peer Pressure

• Looks Like
• Using appropriate body language
• Serious facial expression
• Confident posture

16
Dealing with Peer Pressure

• Sounds Like
• Using a serious voice tone
• Using one of the six strategies
• The Bottom Line I dont skip school

17

• It is better to be alone than in bad company.
• George Washington