What is assertiveness? An assertive person is confident and direct in dealing with others. Assertive communications promote fairness and equality in human interactions based on a positive sense of respect for self and others. It is the direct communication of a person’s needs, wants, and opinions without punishing, threatening, or putting down another person. Assertive behavior includes the ability to stand up for a person’s legitimate rights without violating the rights of others or being overly fearful in the process. A skill that can be learned, assertive behavior is situational-specific, meaning different types of assertive behavior can be used in different situations. Assertive behavior involves three categories of skills: self-affirmation, expressing positive feelings, and expressing negative feelings. Each will be explored during this course.
