Relationship and Friendship
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Relationship and Friendship
Lesson 4 of 5
12 min
Let's begin
After school, some older boys call out to Mugisha: "Come with us to the river instead of going home. Your parents will never know. Don't be a baby!"
Mugisha's heart beats fast. He wants them to like him, but he knows his mother is waiting and the river is dangerous. What should he do?
Your peers are people of about your own age: classmates, friends and teammates. Peer pressure is the push you feel from them to act, dress, talk or think the way they do, so that you fit in with the group. It is often strongest at your age, when being accepted by friends feels very important.
| Positive peer pressure (good influence) | Negative peer pressure (bad influence) |
|---|---|
| Friends encourage you to revise for the national exam | Friends push you to cheat or skip school |
| Your team encourages you to train hard and play fair | Friends dare you to try a cigarette, alcohol or drugs |
| Classmates invite you to join umuganda or a school club | A group tells you to bully or leave out a new pupil |
| Friends remind you to say sorry and make peace | Friends urge you to steal, lie to your parents or sneak out |
| Friends encourage sharing and teamwork | Friends push you to share private photos or chat with strangers online |
At school, on the way home, on the playground, in sports teams, at parties and celebrations, and online on phones.
Negative pressure can lead to poor marks, dropping out of school, addiction, injuries, trouble with the law, losing your parents' trust and feeling guilty. Positive pressure helps you build good habits, confidence and teamwork.
"One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Proverbs 13:20)
"Don't be deceived! 'Evil companionships corrupt good morals.'" (1 Corinthians 15:33)
"Corrupt" means spoil. The friends you choose shape the person you become.
"Help ye one another unto righteousness and pious duty. Help not one another unto sin and transgression." (Qur'an 5:2)
"Righteousness and pious duty" means doing what is right and good; "transgression" means breaking God's law. The verse asks friends to push each other towards good, which is positive peer pressure, and forbids pushing each other towards wrong, which is negative peer pressure.
Worked example
What should Mugisha do?
Step 1 Stop and think: the river is dangerous, and his mother is waiting. It is not safe and not right.
Step 2 Say no with a reason: "No, my mother is waiting for me."
Step 3 Suggest something better: "Let's play football at school tomorrow."
Step 4 Walk home. If they keep bothering him, he tells his parents or teacher.
Tip
No – Go – Tell. Say NO clearly, GO away from the pressure, and TELL a trusted adult if it keeps happening.
A real friend will still be your friend after you say no.
What is peer pressure?
Answer: the push you feel from people of your own age to act or think like them so that you fit in.
Your friends invite you to revise together for a test. Is this positive or negative peer pressure?
Answer: positive, because it encourages good behaviour.
Give two ways to say no to negative peer pressure.
Answer: any two of saying "No, thanks" clearly, giving a reason, suggesting something better, walking away.
Complete Proverbs 13:20: "One who walks with wise men grows ___."
Answer: wise.
According to Qur'an 5:2, what should friends help each other towards?
Answer: righteousness and good (pious) duty, not sin.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The practice questions were written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Your teammates encourage you to train hard and play fair. What kind of peer pressure is this?
