Assertiveness

Assertiveness is based on mutual respect and not aggression. Think of a few situations where you have been in a disagreement with friends or family members. How did you respond? Was the outcome what you desired? Learning how to speak your mind and your heart is an important skill that can lead to increased self-esteem and more fulfilling relationships.

" Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding."

Mahatma Gandhi

Looking Back:
A Self-Reflection

In situations where disagreement exists, what is your normal pattern of response?

Check out our worksheet.

Quiz Ideas

  • Are you a human doormat? Do you say “yes” when you mean “no”? Find out if you stand up for yourself as much as you should with this test.
  • Could you benefit from assertiveness training? How do you relate to others? test yourself and find out.

Moving Ahead:
The Challenge

Is there anything you can do to prevent a negative response in future situations?

Check out our worksheet.

Articles

Campus Resources

  • Counseling and Psychological Services
    CAPS provides a wide range of free services to students, which are provided by a staff of professional clinical psychologists, social workers, counselors, learning specialists, and psychiatric providers. They offer individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, and outreach programs, as well as other resources.
  • Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education and Services
    WAVES helps students make healthy, safe choices and encourage lifelong, thoughtful healthy decision-making through individualized support, creative, programming, and evidence-based education and outreach. They help students feel empowered and have the capacity to grow to their full potential and reach optimal wellness and well-being. WAVES offers information on alcohol including staying sober, sober rides, safer drinking, talking to others about their alcohol use and more.
  • Center for Psychological Services
    CPS offers individual, family, and couples therapy, group therapy, assessment, consultation, and mental health evaluations. They use evidence-based clinical training in assessment, consultation and intervention, and provide accessible, affordable, culturally sensitive, and state-of-the-art services to the community.

Additional Resources

  • Center for Life Strategies
    Center for Life Strategies offers counseling and psychological testing to improve and enhance the quality of people’s lives. This site offers an article on communicating assertively, it’s importance, and how it can change a person’s life.
  • Better Health Channel
    Better Health Channel informs people about being assertive and communicating one’s needs, wants, feelings, beliefs and opinions to others in a direct and honest manner, without intentionally hurting anyone's feelings. Direct communication can reduce conflict, build your self-confidence, and enhance your personal and work relationships.
  • Mind Tools
    Mind Tools is a website that was established to help people learn practical and straight forward skills they need to excel in their career and they provide training solutions for companies and governments. They offer a variety of articles including working with powerful people, working with egos, working angry people, managing boundaries and more.
  • Psychology Today
    Psychology Today is a website that is all about people and what makes them tick. The site is supported by over 750 psychologists, academics, psychiatrists and authors. They offer a collection of articles about being assertive, teaching people how to treat you, assertive phrases, and more.
  • Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. This site offers an article on assertiveness, effective communication and reducing stress. It addresses the differences between being assertive, passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive.