Relationships

FriendshipThere are different types of

friends

◦Acquaintances – people you have met but do not know well

◦Casual friends – similar interests

◦Close friends – share your deepest thoughts and feelings

Qualities of friendshipLoyalty

Care about each other

Reliable

Trustworthy

Making friendsFinding friends – anywhere you

go Becoming involved – common

interests Introduce yourself

◦Begin by being friendly, introduce yourself and let people know you are interested in becoming their friend. Invite your new acquaintance to hang out

Be positive – no one wants to hang around an Eeyore.

Ending a friendshipSometimes people grow apart

Interests change

Personalities change

Before ending a close relationship, talk to the other person

Peers and peer pressure Peers – people your age Peer pressure – the influence

your peers have on you. Can influence the way you think or act

Conformity – looking and behaving like the other members of your group. ◦Good conformity = manners to be

accepted in public ◦Bad conformity = drugs

Peer pressureNegative peer

pressure◦ Causes you to

behave in a way that brings harm to yourself or others

◦ Can cause you to feel uncomfortable about yourself

Handling negative peer pressure ◦ Saying “no”

Say it like you mean it

Do not hesitate Eye contact Do not get angry Do not give excuses Leave as soon as

you say no Stick to what you

believe

Peer pressurePositive peer pressure

◦Affects your behavior in a positive way

◦Special groups use positive peer pressure to offer support to their members

◦Groups help members deal with their problems

Peer pressureCliques

◦A group that excludes other people ◦Have their own way of thinking,

dressing, and behaving ◦May limit friendships, experiences or

thoughts◦May criticize people with different

viewpoints ◦May make fun of people who are not

in their clique

Mean Girls

Dating Participating in an activity with a

friend of the opposite sex

A person you date is someone you are attracted to

No specific age for dating to begin

Depends on maturity level and parental agreement

DatingStages of dating

◦Group dating◦Casual dating – one on one ◦Random dating – dating several

people on a regular basis ◦Steady dating – exclusivity

Enjoy each other’s company Be sure to have a date when you want

one Peer pressure

Teens are the number one

group targeted by online predators

Cyber SafetyInternet predator

◦One who uses the Internet to seek out, exploit, and generally harm others

◦Usually, but not always pretends to be a teenage boy/girl in popular chat rooms, instant messaging programs and social networks

◦Their ultimate goal: face to face meeting

Staying safe onlineNever give out

your last name Never put your

age as part of your screen name (e.g. Kim_15)

Never give away your address or phone number

Never accept files from someone you don’t know

Never give your picture to people you do not know

Never agree to meet someone you’ve only talk to online

Never give out your daily routine

Dateline NBC

First datesBe yourself Choose an activity you both will

enjoy Before the date, think of things to

talk about Laugh off anything embarrassing,

like tripping Be positive Be ready at the agreed upon time Don’t kiss and tell

LoveStrong feeling of affection

between two people Grows stronger with time Based on the total person Not jealous or possessive Concerned more for the other

than themselves

Ladder of Love

Mature love for others Love for children

Love for the opposite sexLove for same sex, but older

Love for same sex friend First love outside of the family

Love of other relatives Love for secondary caregiver

Love for primary caregiverSelf love

Breaking up is hard to doWhy break up?

◦ Being together is not fun anymore

◦ Communication is no longer pleasant

◦ Constant bickering

◦ Another potential love interest

Tips ◦ Talk honestly

◦ Be considerate and respectful

◦ Try to remain friends

◦ Focus on yourself post-breakup

◦ Do not go for the “rebound”