Skills for Healthy Relationships

Chapter 6, Lessons 1-3

The Healthy RelationshipCh 6, Lesson 1

Relationships in Your Life

You have many types of relationships in your life, and you play different roles in all of them.

Relationship:a bond or connection you have with other people

Friendship:a significant relationship between two people based on trust, caring, and consideration

Citizenship:The way you conduct yourself as a member of the community

Traits of Healthy Relationships

In a healthy relationship, people respect and support each other.

Mutual respect – you treat others with respect and they respect you in return

Caring – treat others with kindness and consideration

Honesty – honest and open thoughts, feelings, or actions

Commitment – you contribute to the relationship and work to keep it strong; may have to make some sacrifices in healthy and positive ways

Building Healthy Relationships

It takes work/effort to build and maintain a healthy relationship.

Communication – getting your message across to others and hearing their response

Cooperation – working together for the good of all; reaching a common goal

Compromise – a problem-solving method where each participant gives up something to reach a satisfactory solution

Respecting Yourself and OthersCh 6, Lesson 2

Respect for Yourself

Self-respect will strengthen your relationships – strong values (what you believe, your attitudes, and ideas of what is important) plays a role in respect for yourself; stay true to you!

Respect for OthersShowing the same respect you’d like them to show you

With strangers and casual acquaintances:• Common courtesy (i.e. saying “please”

and “thank you”)

With family and friends:• Listen• Be considerate of others’ feelings• Develop mutual trust• Be realistic in your expectations

Tolerance:the ability to accept others’ differences

Demonstrating tolerance can help you build healthy relationships

Tolerant people value diversity and other people’s differences (culture, interests, and beliefs). If you value others, you will be valued and respected by others.

“What comes around, goes around…”

Barriers to healthy relationships and disrespectful behaviors:

• Prejudice – an unfair opinion or judgment of a particular group of people• Stereotype – an exaggerated or

oversimplified belief about people who belong to a particular group• Bullying – purposefully harming or

threatening other people who cannot easily defend themselves• Hazing – making others perform certain

tasks in order to join a group

Communicating EffectivelyCh 6, Lesson 3

Three types of Communication Styles◦Aggressive◦Passive◦Assertive

Aggressive – overly forceful, pushy, or hostile; may involve bullying or intimidation. This style may not pay attention to others’ thoughts, feelings, or needs

Passive – unwilling or unable to express thoughts and feelings in a direct or firm manner; may put others’ needs before your own. This style dislikes conflict and goes out of way to avoid argument.

Assertive – expressing your views clearly and respectfully; standing up for rights and beliefs. This style involves respectfully negotiating with others to help find best solution to problems.

Ways to Communicate

To communicate effectively, learn and practice

Speaking SkillsListening Skills

Nonverbal Communication

Speaking SkillsSay what you mean; direct and clear (respectful)

“I” messages – a statement that focuses on your feelings rather than someone else’s behavior (focus of “you” statements and how would others feel?)

Listening SkillsPaying close attention to what someone else is saying and communicating• Give full attention• Show interest (eye contact)• Re-state what you hear (summarize or rephrase)• Ask questions (for clarification and understanding)• Show empathy (relate to speaker)

Nonverbal CommunicationSometimes what you say isn’t as important as how you say it… tone can be contradicting.

Body language – nonverbal communication through gestures, facial expressions, behaviors, and posture

Student role play demonstration? Can we guess what you are saying?

Offering Useful FeedbackCan improve relationships with others

Fact: in strong relationships, we can bother others by what we say or do… examples?

How do we communicate change? The goal of constructive criticism is to bring about positive change.

Use “I” messages focusing on problem, explain why, suggest a solution

Let others know what you appreciate from them as well… B-A-L-A-N-C-E… a little appreciation… (goes long and strengthens relationships)