assertiveness
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Related to self-assertive: nonassertive
assertiveness
[ah-ser´tiv-ness]a form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or affirmation of a statement without need of proof. To assert oneself is to affirm one's rights or position withouteither aggressively transgressing the rights of another (assuming a position of dominance) or submissively permitting another to ignore or deny one's rights or rightful position.
assertiveness training instruction and practice in techniques for dealing with interpersonal conflicts and threatening situations in an assertive manner, avoiding the extremes of aggressive and submissive behavior. Such training has as its goals enabling the learner to express personal feelings freely, speak up for his or her rights, communicate disagreement effectively, accept compliments comfortably, persist in expressing a legitimate complaint, and negotiate mutually satisfying solutions to interpersonal situations in which there is some type of conflict.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.