Procedure

Guided Activity: 10 min

Distribute the Image Gap questionnaire and lead students through each step. In Part A, students check the five qualities they admire most in others. Then they copy those five qualities onto the lines in Part B. Ask students to think about how these qualities apply to them and then circle a number between one and ten to indicate how much each quality applies.

Class Discussion: 10 min

• What do we mean by "self-image"? (how we see ourselves)
• What is our "ideal self-image"? (how we'd like to be; the qualities we admire in others)
• The difference between self-image and ideal self-image can be called our "image gap."
• Is there a big gap between how you'd like to be and how you see yourself?
• How does this gap feel? When does it become a "problem"? How do you try to solve the problem?

There are two basic approaches to solving an image gap problem: we try to change the way we are, or we try to change our self-image by becoming more accepting of ourselves. Example:

Problem:  I wish I looked more attractive.

Strategy 1: I could change the way I look by dressing better, using babysitting money to buy new clothes, losing some weight. But I can't really change most of the way I look.

Strategy 2: I could change the way I see myself by being less critical, not comparing myself to others so much, and by focusing more on my strong points - such as my nice hair, or my great sense of humour. 

• How does each strategy make us feel about ourselves?
• When is one type of strategy more appropriate than the other?

 Discuss the "Serenity Prayer"

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Individual Activity: 20 min

• Ask students to complete Image Gap: Problems and Strategies

Extension Activity

Give students a few minutes to read Smoking, Self Image and Self Esteem. Before asking the following questions, remind students that there is no right or wrong answer here. The purpose of this exercise is to get them to think about their own feelings on this topic, so they should feel free to answer these questions honestly.

• Do you agree or disagree with the idea that teens with low self-esteem and negative self-image are more likely to smoke than teens with positive self-image? Why or why not?
• How many of you have friends or relatives who smoke to deal with "stress" or worries? Does it seem to work?
• Think of teens you know who smoke. Would you describe them as attractive, popular or mature?
• Think of your five best friends. Do any of them smoke? Do most of you share similar attitudes about smoking?
• If you don't smoke and a few of your close friends started smoking, how would you react?
• This article talks about how the advertising industry preys on teens with poor self-image and low self-esteem. Do you agree or disagree with this view?
• What do you consider to be the biggest influence in how you feel about yourself?