Dating & Marriage

Perfect Match

• Fill out the worksheet about your perfect match. This should be done individually.

What is dating?

• Dating: Having social plans with another person An extension of friendship

• Teens are still interested in group activities (groups include both sexes)

Significance of Dating

• Provides an opportunity to learn about themselves and others

• Individuals can learn to develop and maintain successful relationships in order to prepare for more important decisions later on in life regarding commitment and marriage

Benefits of Group Dates

• Not as intimidating• Less Pressure• Get to know a group of people• Parents are more likely to approve

(especially younger teens)• Less opportunity to be pressured into sexual

activity

Dating Standards

• Teens who begin dating at a young age are more at risk for becoming sexually active.

• Early dating can interfere with development of an independent sense of identity.

6 Dating Standards

• Arrange for safe transportation• Establish a reasonable curfew• Tell parents/guardians your exact plan (BE

HONEST!)• Give parents/guardians background info on the

person you will be dating• Establish a personal code of conduct.• Establish the expected code of conduct for the

person you will date

Activity!

• Discuss with your neighbors. Appropriate answers will be shared with the class.

• What should be considered in a personal code of conduct? Alone at your date’s home? Who should pay for what? Curfew? What are the physical boundaries? How much money will you spend?

Marriage

Marriage

• Traditional Marriage: An emotional, spiritual, and legal commitment

a man and woman make to one another

• Intimacy and companionship

• Framework for the family unit

• Children

Intimacy

• A deep and meaningful sharing between 2 people

• 4 important types: Psychological Philosophical Creative Physical

Psychological Intimacy

• Shares emotions, needs, weaknesses, and strengths

• Share and rejoice in individual successes• Support when disappointed• Accept your partner’s weaknesses• Deepens through the years

Philosophical Intimacy

• Share beliefs and values

• A persons beliefs influence their decisions

• Determine day-to-day priorities Religious involvements Relationship with parents

Creative Intimacy

• Engage in cooperative efforts Learn a sport together Making a house a home Choose furniture, plant garden, select wallpaper

• Share child-raising responsibilities

Physical Intimacy

• Sharing of physical affection

• Includes a wide range of behaviors that express closeness Committed to each other Have a healthful attitude about sex

Sex & Intimacy

• Sex before marriage DOES NOT predict sexual satisfaction during marriage

• Sex before marriage does not involve commitment, there is not a feeling of security

Success of Marriage

• Age Teens have a high divorce rate

• Reasons for marriage• Length of relationship & engagement

The longer the better

• Attitudes about raising children

Success of Marriage

• Commitment to sexual fidelity Provides closeness and respect

• Good character

• Parents’ success at marriage Parents divorced or still happily married?

Self-Assessment Activity!

• Number your paper from 1-7 (leave a few lines in-between)

• For each of the following statements, rate yourself using the scale below 1 = Not at all 3 = Working on it 5 = Yes, I’m confident

• Write a sentence or two explaining the reasoning behind your rating

Self-Assessment Activity

• Develop healthy friendships with members of both sexes

• Become comfortable with one’s body• Become emotionally independent from adults• Learn skills needed later for marriage and

parenthood• Prepare for a career• Have a clear set of values to guide behavior• Understand and achieve socially responsible

behavior

Review

• What are the four important types of intimacy?

• What are some of the 6 dating standards?

• What are the benefits of group dating?

• Why is dating significant?