Power in Relationships Worksheet

Name:

Date:

🤝 Part 1: Understanding Power in Relationships

1. Power in relationships means having influence or control over decisions and situations. Which of these shows healthy use of power?

Making all decisions for your friend without asking them

Listening to everyone's ideas before making group plans

Using threats to get what you want

Ignoring others' feelings and opinions

2. In te ao Māori, manaakitanga means caring for others with respect and kindness. How does manaakitanga relate to healthy power in relationships?

3. Which of these are examples of unhealthy power use? (Tick all that apply)

Pressuring someone to skip school with you

Sharing decisions equally in your friend group

Threatening to end a friendship if someone doesn't do what you want

Respecting when someone says "no" to your ideas

Spreading rumours to control how others see someone

⚖️ Part 2: Real-Life Scenarios

4. Scenario: Your mate Jake really wants you to try vaping at lunchtime. He says "Everyone's doing it, don't be a baby" and threatens to tell others you're scared if you don't join in.

a) What type of pressure is Jake using? _________________________

b) How could you respond using your own power in a healthy way?

5. Scenario: In your friend group, one person always decides where you sit, what you do at lunch, and who can join your group. Others are starting to feel left out and controlled.

How could the group create more balanced power? Give two practical suggestions:

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

6. Choose the best response when someone is pressuring you to do something you're uncomfortable with:

Just go along with it to avoid conflict

Say "I don't want to do that" and suggest something else

Make up an excuse and hope they forget about it

Get angry and storm off

💭 Part 3: Reflection and Action

7. Think about your own relationships (friends, whānau, classmates). Describe one time when you used your power in a positive way to help or support someone:

8. Complete this sentence: "I can show manaakitanga and respect in my relationships by..."

9. If you saw a friend being pressured or controlled by someone else, what would you do? List two actions you could take:

Action 1: ____________________________________________

Action 2: ____________________________________________