Applying Life Skills ©2010

Chapter 8: You and Your Peers

Chapter Summaries

Peer pressure may be positive or negative. Positive role models encourage you to be your best. Negative peer pressure includes manipulation tactics that encourage you to go against your better judgment. If you are tempted to join a gang, search out a youth group, sports team, or other activities in your community instead. When you respond assertively to peer pressure, you stand up for your rights firmly and positively. Refusal skills help you say "no" without feeling guilty or uncomfortable.

You can learn a lot from friends who differ from you. There are many ways to make new friends. When spending time with others in a group, you have important responsibilities to yourself, to your friends, to your family and to your community. Many people experience feelings of infatuation, but true love is a different thing. Friendships can end for a variety of reasons. If you end a friendship, do so with sensitivity. Almost everyone experiences rejection at some point. You can take steps to overcome rejection.