Assertiveness
Assertiveness reflects people’s expression of their genuine feelings, standing up for their legitimate rights, and refusing unreasonable requests. Assertive individuals resist undue social influences, disregard arbitrary authority figures, and refuse to conform to arbitrary group standards. However, they are also highly capable of expressing positive feelings, including love and admiration. In addition, assertive individuals frequently use the power of social influence to attain goals, for instance, they can successfully recruit others for important activities. Hence, they are often actively involved in politics, consumerism, conservation, or other worthwhile causes (Nevid & Rathus, 2007).
In contrast, lack of assertiveness leads to either submissive or aggressive behavior. Submissive individuals not only possess low self-esteem, but also frequently smolder with resentments. Aggressive individuals, on the other hand, often use physical or verbal attacks, threats, or insults to get the upper hand. While the submissive are prone to socially inappropriate outbursts, the aggressive often end up as social outcasts or worse, inmates (Nevid & Rathus, 2007).
Assertiveness encompasses multidimensional aspects of human expression, including behavior, cognition, and affect. Behaviorally assertive individuals are able to express their emotions, defend their goals, and establish favorable interpersonal relationships (Herzberger, Chan, & Katz, 1984), while cognitively and affectively assertive individuals can appropriately deal with both positive and negative emotions (Gladding, 1988).
Assertiveness reflects people’s expression of their genuine feelings, standing up for their legitimate rights, and refusing unreasonable requests. Assertive individuals resist undue social influences, disregard arbitrary authority figures, and refuse to conform to arbitrary group standards. However, they are also highly capable of expressing positive feelings, including love and admiration. In addition, assertive individuals frequently use the power of social influence to attain goals, for instance, they can successfully recruit others for important activities. Hence, they are often actively involved in politics, consumerism, conservation, or other worthwhile causes (Nevid & Rathus, 2007).
In contrast, lack of assertiveness leads to either submissive or aggressive behavior. Submissive individuals not only possess low self-esteem, but also frequently smolder with resentments. Aggressive individuals, on the other hand, often use physical or verbal attacks, threats, or insults to get the upper hand. While the submissive are prone to socially inappropriate outbursts, the aggressive often end up as social outcasts or worse, inmates (Nevid & Rathus, 2007).
Assertiveness encompasses multidimensional aspects of human expression, including behavior, cognition, and affect. Behaviorally assertive individuals are able to express their emotions, defend their goals, and establish favorable interpersonal relationships (Herzberger, Chan, & Katz, 1984), while cognitively and affectively assertive individuals can appropriately deal with both positive and negative emotions (Gladding, 1988).
Kraft, Litwin, and
Barber (1986) found that that cognitively assertive people possess the internal
skills to cope with tragedies, while Saigh (1988) supported that such
individuals are able to regain their assertiveness after experiencing traumatic
events.
Cassell and Blackwell (2002) maintained that assertiveness exists on a continuum, including positively assertive, non-assertive, and negatively assertive. Positively assertive individuals are able to express their emotions, attain specific goals, and experience peace and joy in their daily lives. In contrast, non-assertive individuals tend to be highly anxious about their interpersonal interactions and fail to set logical goals. Finally, negatively assertive individuals tend to set socially undesirable goals despite their high anxiety.
Cassell and Blackwell (2002) maintained that assertiveness exists on a continuum, including positively assertive, non-assertive, and negatively assertive. Positively assertive individuals are able to express their emotions, attain specific goals, and experience peace and joy in their daily lives. In contrast, non-assertive individuals tend to be highly anxious about their interpersonal interactions and fail to set logical goals. Finally, negatively assertive individuals tend to set socially undesirable goals despite their high anxiety.
Cassel, R. N., &
Blackwell, J. (2002). Positive assertiveness begins with character education
and includes the abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Journal of
Instructional Psychology, 29(2), 77-79.
Gladding, S. T. (1988).
Counseling: A comprehensive profession. Princeton, NC: Merrill Publishing
Company.
Herzberger, S. D., Chan,
E., & Katz, J. (1984). The development of an assertivness self-report
inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 48(3), 317-323.
Kraft, W. A., Litwin, W.
J., & Barber, S. E. (1986). Religious orientation and assertiveness:
Relationship to death anxiety. Journal of Social Psychology, 127, 93-95.
Nevid, J. S., &
Rathus, S. A. (2007). Psychology and the challenges of life,10th edition. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Saigh, P. A. (1988).
Anxiety, depression, and assertion across alternating intervals of stress.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97(3), 338-341.
(Nevid & Rathus,
2007)
(Herzberger, Chan, &
Katz, 1984)
(Gladding, 1988)
Kraft, Litwin, and
Barber (1986)
Saigh (1988)
Cassell and Blackwell
(2002)
References page
The authors in the references
page should be in alphabetical order.
The references should be
on a separate page.
