Unit 2: Influencia: Topic 5

Assertiveness

Freedom from doubt

Control your thoughts and emotions and influence others

More prepared to tackle everyday challenges and recover from setbacks

Greater degree of optimism and life satisfaction

Key to building strong relationships

Self-assurance

self-confidence belief in oneself one’s abilities or one’s judgement

Assertiveness

Not a personality trait usually context-dependent

Advantages of being assertive

Assertiveness as a strategy to prevent peer pressure from distracting students from studying

Passive communication

Keeping quiet and going along with what others want

Aggressive communication

Carrying a big stick and shouting loudly

Passive-aggressive communication

Manipulating others and avoiding responsibility or direct confrontation

Assertive communication

Letting others know what you want in a confident and direct way

Choose the situations when you should be assertive carefully

How much does it matter to me

Will I regret it if I am not assertive in this situation

Am I looking for a specific outcome or just to express myself

Can I manage the consequences of asserting myself in this situation

Level of assertiveness depends on

Situation, Personality, Gender, Power differences, Relationship type/ orientation

Low assertiveness

leads to worse material or instrumental outcomes harms relationships leads to stress

Low assertiveness behaviours

Timidity in requests or claims

Readiness to accommodate others’ requests or impositions

Avoidance or non-initiation of requests conflicts or negotiations

High assertiveness

can jeopardise instrumental outcomes by provoking

Reactance = counterpart adopts similarly overassertive position

Impasse = counterpart walks away or declines to agree a solution

Long-term damage to relationships that leads to resentment, revenge, sabotage, retaliation

Reactance

Counterpart adopts similarly overassertive position

Impasse

Counterpart walks away or declines to agree a solution

High assertiveness consequences

Long-term damage to relationships that leads to resentment revenge sabotage retaliation

Communicating more assertively

Understand your feelings/Share your needs ask for the right amount/Create space for others active listening and conceding wisely/Stand your ground or negotiate

Boundaries

The point at which assertive action is required Important to identify that a boundary has been crossed

Goals and needs

Identify your goals what motivates you and needs identify whether a situation is moving you towards or away from what is important to you

Saying no

If you don’t want to do what the other person has asked say no

You need only one genuine reason

Saying what you want

Identify how you feel and what exactly you want or need Say what it is that you want or need

Developing assertiveness skills

Skills training and role play practice effective in building confidence and helping to manage others’ reactions

Broken record technique

Setting boundaries learn to say no

Developing skills to become more assertive

Skills training and role play practice effective in building confidence and helping to manage others’ reactions

Priming oneself with feelings of power to increase readiness to negotiate

Setting boundaries: learn to say “no” (“Broken record” technique)

Assertive body language

BEAR technique:

1. Describe the Behaviour or event causing the problem

2. Explain the Effect on you

3. Specify the Action you want the other person to tale

4. Outline the Result (positive or negative) of the other person’s behaviour (not) changing

BEAR technique

Describe the Behaviour or event causing the problem

Explain the Effect on you

Specify the Action you want the other person to take

Outline the Result of the other person’s behaviour changing or not changing

Assertiveness is described as freedom from doubt.

True

Assertiveness helps control thoughts and emotions and influence others.

True

Assertiveness reduces optimism and life satisfaction.

False

Assertiveness is a key factor in building strong relationships.

True

Assertiveness is a fixed personality trait that does not change across situations.

False

Assertiveness is related to self-assurance and self-confidence.

True

Peer pressure can distract students from studying.

True

Assertiveness can be used as a strategy to prevent distraction caused by peer pressure.

True

Strategic models students used to maintain academic performance

• Being open, objective, and rational in expressing their aspirations

• Being firm and brave when making decisions

• Believing in one’s abilities

• Prioritizing

• Carrying out obligations without disturbing the rights of other classmates

• Accepting differences of opinion/views

Accepting differences of opinion and views is part of assertive behaviour.

True

Passive communication involves manipulating others and avoiding direct confrontation.

False

Aggressive communication involves carrying a big stick and shouting loudly.

True

Assertive communication means letting others know what you want in a confident and direct way.

True

Passive communication reflects valuing your needs and not valuing others’ needs.

False

The level of assertiveness depends on situation, personality, gender, power differences, and relationship type

True

Low assertiveness can lead to stress and harm relationships.

True

High assertiveness can provoke reactance and impasse.

True

Overassertive behaviour can lead to long-term damage to relationships.

True

Understanding your feelings is one step in communicating more assertively.

True

The BEAR technique includes Behaviour, Effect, Action, and Result.

True