Healthy Friendships and Relationships What is a relationship? the way in which two or more people or things are connected, or the state of being connected. Family Group Members Paid Supports Close Friendships Acquaintances Romantic Relationships Relationships is important because …. • Humans are social creatures, we are naturally born to interact with others. • People desire to belong. • People can be influenced through their relationships Relationships play an important role in everyone’s lives, even more so for students. School lives, and relationships with peers become even more influential as one enters adolescence. https://www.menti.com/altmauyxpzra What are some of the benefits that relationships provide for us? Emotional Support Increased Happiness Personal Growth & Development Stress Reduction Social Support Enhanced self-esteem Intimacy and Affection Shared Experience Goal Attainment https://www.menti.com/altmauyxpzra What are some of the drawbacks or downsides that relationships can cause? Emotional challenges Breakup or loss Loss of autonomy Time commitment Communication difficulties Social pressure Unresolved issues Dependency Compatibility issue Loss of individual identity Importance of Relationships Peer acceptance, sometimes referred to by researchers as popularity, focuses on how much students like or like to play with their classmates, and has been found to affect students’ sense of belonging in school and their academic achievement. High-quality friendships involve not only companionship, but also validation, and support. In addition playing together, good friends feel comfortable opening up to each and are motivated to resolve conflicts that arise. But not all relationships are necessarily “High What are relationships typically built upon? Healthy friendships and relationships also mean learning to respect and trust each other. • People respect each other for who they are. • People may disagree with each other. But with respect and trust, they can talk about how they feel and work things out. • People also should respect and trust themselves and their feelings so they can set boundaries and feel comfortable. RELATIONSHIPS EXIST ON A SPECTRUM RELATIONSHIPS EXIST ON A SPECTRUM Healthy Relationships Unhealthy Relations RELATIONSHIPS EXIST ON A SPECTRUM A healthy relationship means that both you and your partner/friends are: Communicating: You talk openly about problems, listen to each other and respect each other’s opinions. Respectful: You value each other as you are. You respect each other’s emotional, digital and sexual boundaries. Trusting: You believe what your partner has to say. You do not feel the need to “prove” each other’s trustworthiness. Honest: You are honest with each other, but can still keep some things private. Equal: You make decisions together and hold each other to the same standards. Enjoying personal time: You both can enjoy spending time apart, alone or with others. You respect each other’s need for time apart RELATIONSHIPS EXIST ON A SPECTRUM You may be in an unhealthy relationship if you and your friends/partner are: Not communicating: When problems arise, you fight or you don’t discuss them at all. Disrespectful: One or both partners is not considerate of the other’s feelings and/or personal boundaries. Not trusting: One partner doesn’t believe what the other says, or feels entitled to invade their privacy. Dishonest: One or both partners tells lies. Trying to take control: One partner feels their desires and choices are more RELATIONSHIPS EXIST ON A SPECTRUM Abuse is occurring in a relationship when: Communicates in a way that is hurtful, threatening, insulting or demeaning. Disrespects the feelings, thoughts, decisions, opinions or physical safety of the other. Physically hurts or injures the other partner by hitting, slapping, choking, pushing or shoving. Blames the other partner for their harmful actions, makes excuses for abusive actions and/or minimizes the abusive behavior. Controls and isolates the other partner by telling them what to wear, who they can hang out with, where they can go Identifying the status of the relationships th Being In a Healthy Friendship Means The person feels good about themselves when they are with their friend There’s an equal amount of “give and take” between the person and their friend The person feels safe around their friend The person trusts and respects their friend The person wants to spend time with their friend The person can be themselves around their friend The person goes to places and does things both people like with their Being In an Unhealthy Friendship Means The person doesn’t feel good: their feelings are hurt or they feel sad or upset around their friend The person and their friend only talk about the friend The person is uncomfortable with what their friend says and does The person’s privacy is not respected The person feels like they have to spend time with their friend The person acts differently around their friend The person only goes to places the friend Identifying the status of the relationships th A little note • Sometimes we can be in a toxic relationship without knowing it • Sometimes we can be the one who is being toxic without knowing it Sources • https://www.loveisrespect.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/08/highschool-educatorstoolkit.pdf
