Making Responsible Choices

Consequences: • Good/Positive

• Bad/Negative

EVERY choice we make will result in a consequence. Today is NOT your forever! Personal Decisions affect EVERY area of your life.

Biggest Areas of Peer Pressure and Influence: • Promiscuous Behavior

• Drug Use and Abuse

• Alcohol Consumption and Abuse

• Cigarette Smoking

• Poor Academic Performance

• Inappropriate Fashion and Grooming Choices

• Breaking the laws of government and the community resulting in incarceration Whether directly, indirectly, or individually, peer pressure affects all individuals within the community. There is no discrimination on peer pressure and can affect people of all ages, races, nationality, gender, or social class.

There are four possible responses to peer pressure:

1. Compliance – Disagreeing with the opinion/action of the group, but acquiescing (i.e., going along with) the group opinion nonetheless.

2. Conversion – Changing personal opinion to agree with the opinion of the group. 3. Congruence – Agreeing with the opinion/action of the group from the onset. 4. Non-Conformity – Either remaining independent (e.g., not succumbing to group pressure and

maintaining personal opinion), or anti-conformity (purposefully expressing opinions or actions contrary to the status quo)

Ways to Overcome Negative Peer Pressure

1. Use the Buddy System Associate with peers with the same interests, goals and morals as yourself, and help hold one another accountable.

2. Stay Away from “Pressure” Zones Sometimes it’s just best to stay away from compromising situations and environments.

3. Ask Many Questions Most times, peers who pressure others will become annoyed with someone that challenges them, so ask questions about how the influence is going to affect you.

4. JUST SAY NO! It’s okay to just say NO. You do not have to explain or justify your decision. Sometimes our

biggest mistake is being too nice and feeling a need to explain ourselves to our peers.

Areas of Influence: • Family

• Friends

• Religious Institution

• School

• Extra-Curricular and Community Activities

“Birds of a feather will flock together”

Remember to always choose positive friends with likeminded goals, dreams, and aspirations! You are no better than the company that you keep and must always be careful of surrounding yourself with negative influences or being a part of the wrong crowd.