Group pressure is a common issue faced by high school students. They often feel the need to conform to the expectations of their peers, even if it goes against their personal values. As educators, it’s crucial to teach students how to handle group pressure and make their own decisions. This blog post provides an overview of a Social-Emotional Learning activity that can help students develop the confidence to say no to group pressure and understand that real friends respect their choices.

Introduction

High school students often face situations where they feel pressured by their peers to do something they don’t want to do. It’s important for them to learn how to handle these situations and make their own decisions. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can help students develop the necessary skills to navigate group pressure and maintain their personal boundaries. By teaching students to recognize and resist group pressure, we empower them to make choices that align with their values and beliefs. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement SEL activity to help students handle group pressure effectively.

No-Prep Activity

This no-prep activity, called “Stand Your Ground,” requires no additional materials or preparation. It can be conducted in a classroom setting and encourages students to practice saying no to group pressure. Here’s how it works:

1. Divide students into small groups of 4-5 members.
2. Ask each group to come up with a scenario in which someone might feel pressured to do something they don’t want to do. For example, a group of friends might pressure someone to try a risky skateboard trick.
3. One student in each group will play the role of the person being pressured, while the others will act as the group applying pressure.
4. The student being pressured should practice saying “no” in a firm and confident manner, while the other group members try to persuade them to give in to the pressure.
5. After a few minutes, have the groups switch roles so that each student gets a chance to practice saying no to group pressure.

This activity allows students to experience both sides of group pressure, helping them understand the importance of respecting others’ decisions and developing the confidence to stand up for their own choices.

Discussion Questions

After completing the “Stand Your Ground” activity, facilitate a group discussion with the following questions:

1. How did it feel to be pressured by your peers? How did it feel to be the one applying pressure?
2. What strategies did you use to resist group pressure? Were they effective?
3. Can you think of a time when you experienced group pressure in a real-life situation? How did you handle it?
4. What are the potential consequences of giving in to group pressure?
5. How can we support our friends when they are facing group pressure?

Related Skills

Handling group pressure is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that students can benefit from include:

• Assertiveness: The ability to express one’s feelings, opinions, and needs in a respectful and confident manner.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can help students support their friends when they face group pressure.
• Decision-making: Evaluating different options and making informed choices, even when faced with pressure from others.
• Conflict resolution: Resolving disagreements and conflicts in a peaceful and respectful manner.

Next Steps

Helping students develop the skills to handle group pressure is an important part of their social and emotional growth. By incorporating Social-Emotional Learning activities like “Stand Your Ground” into your lesson plans, you can empower students to make their own decisions and resist peer pressure. To access more SEL activities and resources, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech.