Chapter 8 Peer Relationships Lesson 1 n Safe

Chapter 8 Peer Relationships

Lesson 1 n Safe and Healthy Friendships

Peer Relationships Personality is developing and strengthening during adolescence n Identity is influenced by many factors including peers. n As you get older, social groups expand n

Friendships n n n Many different kinds of friendships are formed throughout you life In addition to spending time together, friends care, respect, trust and show consideration for each other. Friendships several characteristics: ] ¨ Similar values, interests, beliefs and attitudes ¨ Open and honest communication ¨ Mutual respect, caring and support ¨ Concern about each other’s safety and well-being

Casual and Close Friendships n n n Casual friend- someone w/ whom you share interests but not deep emotional bonds Close friends have strong emotional ties to each other Close friends offer support and encouragement, listens to concerns w/o judging, feel comfortable about talking about problems that may arise in the friendship

Platonic Friendship n Friendship with a member of the opposite gender in which there is affection but the two people are not considered a couple.

Online Friendships n Remember: ¨ Don’t share personal information or pictures of yourself ¨ Don’t offer your phone number or street address ¨ Never arrange a face to face meeting ¨ Always tell a trusted adult if an online friend suggests you do something that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Building Strong Friendships n n Friendships may become complex when friends grow closer and share more serious thoughts and feelings Healthy relationships are based on: ¨ ¨ n Mutual respect Caring Honesty Commitment Additional traits of a positive friendship: ¨ ¨ ¨ Empathy Fairness Shared Interests Acceptance Support Loyalty

Recognizing Problems in Friendships are positive when they offer encouragement and support n Friendships can be negative when they influence you to engage in harmful activities. (ex: cyberbullying) n Recognize and resolve problems that arise to avoid unhealthy friendships. n

Cliques Small circle of friends, usually with similar backgrounds or tastes, who exclude people viewed as outsiders. n Cliques can provide a sense of belonging n Cliques can also exclude others by showing predjudice n

Managing Feelings of Envy or Jealousy n If you feel jealous of a friend ask yourself: ¨ What is making me feel jealous? ¨ Is my friend deliberately trying to make me feel this way? ¨ What can I do to manage or reduce these feelings? How can I feel better about myself? ¨ Are these feelings of jealousy more important that our friendship? ¨ What positive qualities make this person a good friend?

When Friendships Change n n Develop new interests Grow apart from each other Becoming harmful Reasons for ending a friendship: ¨A friend pressures you to do something that is unsafe or goes against your values ¨ A friend says hurtful or insulting things to you ¨ A friend constantly tries to get you to change your beliefs or actions