The importance of good interpersonal communication skills is examined. The disadvantages of passive behavior, the importance of self-concept, and the use and evaluation of assertiveness scripts are discussed. (CT)

Independent expectancies were that alcohol enhances social and physical pleasure, enhances sexual performance and experience, increases power and aggression, increases social assertiveness, and reduces tension. More global factors were related to light consumption. Increased expectation of sexual and aggressive behavior was found in heavier…

Two concepts of some importance to mental health are rationality and assertiveness. This study attempted to discover which of the two concepts is more central to good mental health. It was concluded that rationality is a more central concept to good mental health than assertiveness. (Author)

Explored the validity of the College Self-Expression Scale (CSES) for 144 students in the context of three alternative models of behavior--personism, situationalism, and interactionalism. Results supported the concurrent validity of the CSES and the role of both person and situational, but not interactional, influences on assertion. (WAS)

Investigated assertive behavior among Black male patients (N=48) under White vs. Black interpersonal partner conditions. Responses to familiar and unfamiliar interpersonal stimuli in role play and in vivo were rated. Responses were more assertive in the unfamiliar-White prompter condition. (Author/JAC)

Assessed the performance of hypertensive patients in increasingly demanding interpersonal interactions. Twelve extended role-played scenes were employed. Results indicated that the hypertensive patients responded less assertively than the nonpatient comparison group. However, the performance of the normotensive patient group was similar to that of…

Assessed efficacy of behavior rehearsal procedures in assertion training. Results indicated that nonassertive subjects responded less assertively in behavior role play tests, and reported themselves more anxious than assertive subjects. The role-reversal group was least effective in modifying self-reports of assertion behaviors.…

A study of college students showed that asserters and males expressed more anger and aggression and nonasserters experienced more covert anger. Men scored higher than women on guilt and condemnation of anger, a reflection of the study sample rather than an actual population difference. (Author)

Over five days, videotaped and analyzed contrived play sessions of African-American male first and third graders to examine behavioral patterns leading to chronic victimization by peers. Victims demonstrated lower rates of assertive behaviors and higher rates of nonassertive behaviors than nonvictims. Children who eventually emerged as chronic…

Reports that women employ fundamentally the same personal influence strategies as male managers to affect others in a work organization. States that assertive behavioral strategies remain one of the few characteristics distinguishing male from female respondents. Specific recommendations for change are addressed. (Author/CH)

Investigated the relationship between sex role orientations and performance in interpersonal situations. Males and females in each of four sex role categories role-played situations requiring the appropriate expression of assertiveness. Androgynous subjects were most effective in rated skills components while undifferentiated subjects were highly…

Results indicated little or no correspondence between self-report scores and behavior in a contrived in vivo setting or between role play and behavior with a sample of college students. Assertion was enhanced in the role play condition, but not in the contrived in vivo condition. (JAC)

In recent years the college dormitory has become a popular setting for examining chronic effects of crowding and high density in humans. Possible differences between corridor- and suite-type residents were investigated to examine the degree to which corridor- and suite-design dormitories influence assertive behavior of the residents. It was…

Investigated the adequacy of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS) as a global measure of assertiveness. Analysis indicated that the RAS does not provide a unidimensional index of assertiveness, but rather measures a number of factors including situation-specific assertive behavior, aggressiveness, and a more general assertiveness. (Author)

Recent research on sex differences in aggressive styles is reviewed. The concept of indirect aggression in particular is presented and discussed, and it is argued that it is nonsensical to claim that males are more aggressive than females. A theory about development of aggressive behavior styles is presented. (SLD)