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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What influences your decisions? Maybe it's what's important to you. Maybe it's your family, the law, or knowing what's right and wrong. Then there are your firends. Peer pressure can have a big influence on decisions made by people of all ages. Friends can pressure you to do something positive, like volunteer work. Or, they can pressure you to do something negative, like smoke. When your friends push you to do something by challenging, encouraging, teasing, or nagging you, that's peer pressure.

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

Even if your friends don't use actions or words to pressure you to do something, they can still influence your decisions. When you do something because you think your friends want you to, or you think it will make you look good in front of them, this is peer influence. It's not as obvious as peer pressure, but it can still be as strong. The bottom line is that you need to do what's right for you.

Read each of the following situations. Think about what you would do in each one and write down your thoughts.

The Sneaker Dilemma

You hang around with a particular group of friends. When a new style of sneaker hits the market, a lot of your friends go out and buy them. But, you don't have the money for them, and besides, you don't particularly like the way they look. How do you feel when you realize you are the only one in the group who has not purchased the sneakers? What are the different ways you can manage this situation?

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.

Your friends go out and buy a new style of sneakers that you don't particularly like and don't have the money for. You (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

After choosing not to buy a pair of the new style of sneakers your friends like, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

After borrowing money to buy a pair of the new style of sneakers your friends like, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

After buying different sneakers that look better to you and are less expensive, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1

Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #1



THANKS FOR THINKING THIS THROUGH!

Now, move on to the next situation.

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

After school

You go with a group after school to a friend's house. There is no adult supervision, and some of your friends are there smoking cigarettes. They want you to join them, but you are really opposed to smoking.

What sort of position does this put you in with your friends? Can it jeopardize your friendships? What sort of feelings and thoughts would go through your head? What should you do?

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.

Your friends are smoking cigarettes and they want you to join them. You (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

You say "no" and then ask your friends what they're doing next weekend. You feel:

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

After smoking a cigarette with your friends, you feel:

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

You say "no" and then walk away to hang out with your friends who aren't smoking. You feel :

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2

Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to :

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #2



THANKS FOR THINKING THIS THROUGH!

Now, move on to the next situation.

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

The New Friend

You meet a new kid in your neighborhood and you hit it off well, but when he shows up at school, none of your friends like him. Some make fun of him behind his back, while others just refuse to warm up to him.

You want to remain friends with the new kid, but how do you feel about hanging out with someone your other friends don't like? What do you think your friends expect you to do in this situation?

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.

You want to be friends with a new kid in your neighborhood, but your friends don't like him. You (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

Since you spend some time with the new kid and some time with your own friends, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

After deciding not to be friends with the new kid that your firends don't like, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

When the new kid and some of your old friends come over to your house to hang out, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3

Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #3



THANKS FOR THINKING THIS THROUGH!

Now, move on to the next situation.

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

Old friends, new changes

You have had the same set of friends for several years now, and you are all very close, which you like. Lately, however, you notice that some of your friends are changing. Some of them have started stealing, and the others seem to approve. They've lost interest in the things you used to do together, like school sports, and you still want to be on some of the teams.

What sort of changes are going on here, and what effects could they have on you? Can friendships change and still be friendships? What roles might these friends have played in your life in the past, and what roles might they play in the future?

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.

Your close friends are changing and doing things you don't feel good about, like stealing. You (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

After choosing to tell your friends how you feel, you are (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

After you start to make new friends who share your interests, you realize (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

After you pretend you're okay with how your friends are changing and what they're doing, you feel (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4

Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):

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CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES
Situation #4



Now, answer this question:

What do you think will really happen if you don't go along with your friends?

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ACTIVITY
COMPLETE!