Psychological Corollary

Certain behaviors indicate that a person values a social relationship.

Lesson Objective

Students will identify three behaviors that show that a person values a relationship. For example, good friends show empathy, loyalty, and consideration.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

Other Vocabulary

• homesick
• Chinese

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Have students work individually or in small groups to create a definition of friend
• Review definitions for the words sensitive, thoughtful, and considerate.
• Introduce vocabulary.

Group Use of Student Workbook

Ask students to complete each of the ten vignettes as follows:

• Read the vignette.
• Decide which response a good friend would choose.
• Discuss the type of behavior demonstrated.

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to empathize with others, observe others, and perceive cues:

• Discuss why it is easier to be sensitive if we imagine ourselves in the other person's place.
• Define empathy
• Ask students to recall the situations in the worksheet (e.g., death of a parent, homesick friend, disappointed athlete, and parents with a drinking problem).
• Have students describe how they think each of the characters might feel.
• Ask students to imagine themselves in each of the situations. Then ask students to make a list of what they might like to have friends do for them. If time permits, ask students to identify what they would not want friends to do or say.

Review

• Ask students to identify three characteristics indicating that a person values a relationship (e.g, consideration, loyalty, and patience).
• Ask students to identify two reasons why good friends empathize with each other (e.g., because empathy helps us choose helpful things to do for and say to each other; it also helps us avoid saying the wrong thing).