REFUSAL SKILLSPeer Pressure &

WHAT IS PEER PRESSURE The influence to go along with the beliefs

and actions of other people of your age.• Direct pressure takes the form of words or

actions directed towards you. • Indirect pressure is more subtle but is a

form of peer pressure. Ex: People at your school may be wearing a specific shoe style. Maybe you want to go out to buy those shoes, too, because you think you will fit in with everyone else if you wear them.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE PRESSURE Positive Peer Pressure

– This can inspire you to do something positive. – Positive Peer Pressure can influence you to do

better in school or to participate in after school activities

Negative Peer Pressure This can pressure you to do something that

could hurt you or other, or get you into trouble. Negative peer pressure can negatively affect

your performance at school, your health, and your future.

WHAT ARE REFUSAL SKILLS? Refusal Skills are communication

strategies that help you say no effectively.

They help you avoid doing things that you do not want to do without feeling uncomfortable about your decisions.

Using refusal skills, you stand up for your values, which builds self-respect.

S.T.O.P.

• SAY NO IN A FIRM VOICE• TELL WHY NOT• OFFER OTHER IDEAS• PROMPTLY LEAVE

TYPES OF REFUSAL SKILLS Say no Explain Suggest alternatives Leave Repeating Change the subject Humor/sarcasm

SAYING “NO” Speak loud and clear Use body language to back up the

word “no” Plant your feet and square your

shoulders

EXPLAIN Explain why you don’t want to try

or do something Be clear when explaining

“it goes against my morals” “I have to take a drug test for the

football game on Friday”

SUGGESTING ALTERNATIVES

By thinking of something better to do, you offer everyone an “out”

People get into trouble when they are bored and don’t have alternatives

LEAVE Simply remove yourself from the

situation With you leading the way, others

who feel uncomfortable will follow

REPEATING Sometimes it takes saying “no”

more than once, on more than one occasion

Just because someone asks more than once doesn’t mean you have to cave

CHANGE THE SUBJECT Say “no” and follow it by quickly changing

the subject. Example:

Tom says to Jim, “why don’t we go to my parents house and raid the liquor cabinet while they’re away?!”

Jim says to Tom, “I don’t think so but hey, what about that football game last night?! Can you believe the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl? Talk about East meets West!”

HUMOR/SARCASM Sometimes humor is the best way to

respond to a situation, as it can lighten a serious mood

It can also divert attention away from you and onto something else.

WHEN YOU MAY EXPERIENCE PEER PRESSURE

Food, sex, drugs, alcohol, skipping, fighting, gangs, cheating.