Marco:  Dave I heard this awesome track of the new CD from Usher. The whole CD is tight, have you heard it?
Dave: No, I haven't had a chance to get any new music lately. My green is kind of low.
Marco: What's that got to do with anything?
Dave: I have other things I need to save my money for. I've been trying not to spent money on CD's and stuff like that. I want to get Erica something special for her birthday, so I can make the sacrifice.
Marco: Oh is that all?  You don't need to worry about spending your cash.  My girl works at CD NOW and she kinda "turns the other way" when I go in there to get some music.
Dave: What do you mean by that?
Marco: You know, I go in, pick out what I want and walk out with it. No charge.
Dave:  Oh, you mean lifting it! Man, you should know me better than that. I'm not gonna take something that's not mine.
Marco: It's not really lifting. It's like a marketing expense. I take the CD's and tell my friends and then they go and buy them.  I was just trying to help you out man, I didn't know you were going to get all righteous on me.
Dave: I'm not getting righteous on you, but I just don't want to risk going to jail over a CD. I don't think it's worth it.  Besides, how is Erica going to explain to her boss that CD's go missing on her shift?  You do know her boss can see everything from the video cameras in the store.
Marco:  Oh, I didn't think about that.
Dave: Well, think about it. You better be glad I am smart enough for the both of us because I would hate to have to bail you out of jail for shoplifting.  
QUIZ
How did Dave address his belief?  
Do you think his decision to express his belief was valid? How would you address that if it were you?
How can this relate to sexual relationships and peer pressure surrounding having sex?

Links/ Resources:

"Self Creation
http://www.selfcreation.com/happiness/4_beliefs.htm

Definition:
1.A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort: relaxed under the influence of the music; the influence of television on modern life.

2.Power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position: used her parent's influence to get the job.

3. a.A person who exerts influence: My parents considered my friend to be a bad influence on me.
b.An effect or change produced by influence.

Just like beliefs can impact our daily decisions, so can internal and external influences.  Internal influences can be described as our personal beliefs, feelings, morals, experience, knowledge, etc. These internal influences can be things that we decide for ourselves rather than adopting the same beliefs of someone else.  External influences can be described as the beliefs  of other people.  Examples of external influences are: our family, friends, church, society, sports, media, etc.  Not all internal and external influences are good (or bad for that matter).

As an individual, it is important that we establish what we want to influence our lives and decisions. With the understanding that peer pressure can influence one's decisions regarding certain things, it is healthy to make sure we do not allow someone to make all decisions for us.  Remember the comment that our parents often use, "Would you jump off a bridge if your friends did?"  Well, probably not, but if a friend tells me about a CD I would like I would probably want to buy it.   Our friends sometimes influence us in good ways, but some influences can lead us to make decisions that are not healthy like trying drugs or being too competitive.  It is important to have communication skills that can help us convey what our beliefs are to others without being disrespectful to the beliefs they might have.

Beliefs (bi léf'), n.

Definition:
1.The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another: My belief in you is as strong as ever.

2.Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something: His explanation of what happened defies belief.

3.Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.

The beliefs we have can impact the decisions we make on a daily basis. We often adopt the beliefs that our parents or guardians teach us.  If my parents practice a certain religion I might have the same beliefs as them regarding spirituality and faith. Because our beliefs construct a large part of our life it is important that we establish our beliefs before peer pressure arises.