Resisting Peer Pressure

HOW TO USE THIS LESSON: The webpage below is intended to be projected for students to follow along. It includes basic instructions, definitions, etc. to guide students. Depending on your technology, you can have a student in charge of scrolling through the site, on your cues. Just have them try not to scroll past the thin purple dividers or thick colored banners until you are ready to start that next section.

You will also need to download and/or print this facilitator's guide. This document contains extra instructions, facilitator's notes, and other behind-the-scenes content necessary for the lesson.

Resisting Peer Pressure.docx

Objective: You will learn how to make responsible decisions, stand up for yourself, and maintain your values and beliefs in the face of peer pressure.

lntroduction

Take a few minutes to reflect quietly on the following:

Think of a time when you felt proud of a decision you made, even though others around you were trying to influence you to choose differently.
What made it possible for you to stand firm in your decision?
Think of one specific word that represents the strength or value that helped you in that moment, and keep it in mind for later in this lesson.

Main Activities

Watch:

We are going to be talking about resisting peer pressure today. We will take a few minutes to watch this video on how peer pressure works.

Keep in mind that peer pressure is when we feel influenced by others to do something, whether positive or negative.

Discussion

Visualize Your Boundaries

In this activity, you will visualize your boundaries and practice resisting peer pressure using both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on situations where you’ve faced peer pressure. Answer the following questions with the person sitting next to you.

When do I feel pressured to act against my values or beliefs?

What are my personal limits in social situations?

Who in my life makes me feel supported when resisting pressure?

Who or what makes me feel unsafe or uncomfortable in these situations?

Let's read and discuss the following scenario as a class.

The Party Invitation
You receive an invitation to a party at a friend's house. You’re excited to go, but you’ve heard that some people at the party will be drinking alcohol and using drugs. Your close friend, who is also going, tells you that everyone will be drinking and that you should join in to have fun. They say, "Come on, everyone is doing it! You don’t want to be the only one who doesn’t drink, do you?"

Discussion Points:

What type of peer pressure is present in this scenario?

How might you feel about the situation?

What are some possible responses you could give to your friend to resist the pressure?

What are the potential consequences of choosing to drink or not drink at the party?

Closing

Let's debrief and close the lesson with these questions:

What is one thing you learned today that you will use in real life to resist peer pressure?

What role do you think bystanders play in situations of peer pressure? How can they help?

If you could give one piece of advice to someone struggling with peer pressure, what would it be?

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