Psychological Corollary

Changing behavior to achieve good social relationships need not be carried to the extreme.Being friendly and cooperative does not mean a person must accept another's views or engage in inappropriate activities.

Lesson Objective

Given an example of pressure to engage in inappropriate activities, students will identify alternative means of obtaining social success. For example, a person who is pressured by friends to behave inappropriately can suggest alternative activities or explain his objections.

Social Behaviors

This lesson shows students that successful people:

• are assertive
• resist pressures to behave
• clarify conflicting messages
• act conscientiously
• demonstrate honesty
• Stand up for their own views
• Seek positive social contacts

Other Vocabulary

• check out
• cigarette
• weird
• ‘’Angel Dust’’
• nerds
• ‘’Killer Weed’’

Suggested Lesson Plans

Introduction

• Have students brainstorm a list of things young people are pressured to do by peers; for example, they might be encouraged to:
• shoplift;
• abuse drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes;
• vandalize property;
• drive after consuming too much alcohol; and
• drive faster than safety permits.

• Introduce vocabulary. (Note that "Angel Dust" and "Killer Weed" are other words for P.C.P.)

Group Use of Student Workbook

• Have students complete the cartoons in the following manner:
• Read the cartoon.
• Complete the empty balloons, showing that you can stand up for and say what you believe.
• Have students share and discuss their responses.

Follow - Up

• Ask students to describe situations in which they have been pressured by friends or others to do things they thought were wrong or to do things they didn't want to do.
• Ask students to describe
• how the person put pressure on them.
• how they felt about the situation.
• how they handled the situation.
• what the consequences were.
• Ask students to identify the consequences each cartoon character might face if he or she went along with the person who was putting on pressure.
• Ask students to identify reasons why friends and others might pressure them to do things with which they disagree. For example, they might be
• trying to prove themselves,
• trying to test us,
• trying to exploit us, or
• not understanding the consequences of proposed actions.
• Ask students which person they respect more:
• the person who goes along with an idea he or she thinks is wrong or stupid, or
• the person who stands up for what he or she believes in, even though it might result in losing "friends."
• Ask students if they think a person who pressures them to do something they think is wrong is a true friend.
• Ask students if they have a "line" they won't cross when friends put pressure on; that is, are there certain things you absolutely wouldn't do, regardless of how much you wanted to make or maintain a friendship?

Behavior Development Activity

To encourage students to be assertive and resist pressures to behave inappropriately:

• Ask students to identify effective methods for resisting pressure

• Divide the class into groups of two. Have each pair:
• Explain the differences between a friend and an acquaintance.
• Select one action an acquaintance might pressure them to do that they would not want to do. (Use the list the students created in the Introduction.)
• Roleplay a situation in which one student tries to pressure the other to do what he or she disagrees with; the other student should resist.
• Reverse roles so that both students have an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to resist pressure. Roleplay the same situation, this time assuming that the person who is putting on the pressure is a good friend.
• Have observing classmates give feedback to the "resisters" on how they can be more assertive and persuasive.
• Discuss how and why students might deal with friends differently than with acquaintances.

Review

Have students identify and model two responses to pressure from others to engage in inappropriate behavior.