Group Associations Valuable Friendships Friendships make up a

Group Associations

Valuable Friendships • Friendships make up a valuable, positive element in our lives. • The three components of good friendships are: – Belonging and Acceptance – Sharing of feelings and experiences – Sense of personal worth

A Need to Belong • Feeling Lonely – Not feeling like you are part of a group (large or small). – You feel left out or overlooked altogether when you really want to feel included in the group.

A Need to Belong • Being Alone – Choosing to be alone. – Positive time for self. – Being alone doesn’t mean someone feels rejected or lonely.

A Need to Belong • Being Rejected – Others prefer not to be with you. – When you try to join in but are shut out.

Reasons for Rejection • • • Physical handicaps Super smart Learning disabilities Ethnic origins Religious beliefs Gender • Geography (where you live) • Family income • Skill level • Inappropriate behaviors • Family structures

Left Out Activity • The object of this activity will be to follow the commands the teacher gives. • The teacher will call out a number and the students must form themselves into groups that are made up of that number.

Types of Groups • What various types of groups are you associated with? – Sports – Character building – Service – Church

Types of Groups • What various types of groups are you associated with? – Causes or concern centered – Neighbors – Activity Centered

Benefits of Group Association • Gives self-esteem • Reduces Stress • Offers opportunities for social and leadership skills • Understands social expectations • Provides identity and emotional security • Satisfies a sense of belonging and unity.

Warning!!! • Does the group threaten me if I don’t do what they say? • Does the group engage in any illegal activity? • Does the group demean others? • Does the group promote prejudice? • Does the group engage in secret behavior they don’t want others to know about? If you said yes to ANY of the above, it is probably not a positive group to join!!!

What is a Gang? • A group of people who form an allegiance to the exclusion of others, for a common purpose. • Engage in violent, unlawful, or criminal behavior.

Why Do Teens Join Gangs? • • • Friendship A sense of belonging Identify Something to do Feeling of power • • Excitement Money Protection Pressure to join is so strong, teens feel they have no choice

Consequences With Gang Membership • • Incarceration Become wounded or killed Hurt or kill others Probably make little money Cause great family trauma, or lose all family ties Drop out of school, jeopardizing future Close off other opportunities for future options Substance abuse

Peer Pressure • Define Peer Pressure: Pressure or stress upon an individual to conform. • Two types of Peer Pressure – Positive Peer Pressure – Negative Peer Pressure • People conform: – Out of fear of being ridiculed or rejected. – Have a need to belong and be liked by others.

Negative Peer Pressure • • • Doing things you really don’t want to do Doing something just to fit in Loss of self-control Personal conflict (right vs. wrong) Judged by actions of the group

Positive Peer Pressure • • • Pressure into doing good things Influences you to stick to values/goals Helps you listen to your feelings Help others by setting a good example Judged by actions of the group

Ways to Deal with Peer Pressure • Make your own decisions • Know who you are and who you want to become • Set realistic positive goals • Weigh the consequences of your actions • Say no • Be persistent • Terminate the conversation • Don’t be defensive

Peer Pressure Activity • “Decide Early” Activity • Find a partner and face each other. • Object of the game – count the number of fingers on all four hands (your two hands and your partners two hands) • First one to yell out the answer correctly wins!

Summary • Being a member of a group brings a sense of belonging and can raise self-esteem. • Do not succumb to negative peer pressure. • Find groups to be apart of that strengthen your values, not go against them.