To provide practice for newly acquired assertiveness skills, leaders have stressed the importance of role playing. This emphasis on verbal exchange sometimes causes the attrition of quiet, introspective participants. The authors used art exercises to activate the imagination and to provide nonverbal methods of practice.esearch (Bogen, 1969;Ornstein, 1977) has indicated the existence of two separately functioning hemispheres of the human brain, the left hemisphere, which controls verbal, rational, linear, and sequential functions, and the right hemisphere, which is responsible for nonverbal, intuitive, imaginative, and simultaneous operations. Creativity studies (Haefele, 1962) have suggested that the discovery of creative solutions depends on a series of predictable steps: preparation, incubation, and verification. The process of changing behavior in assertiveness training can be described as a progression through these same three steps.The preparation stage involves rational left brain activities such as defining terms, conceptualizing principles, setting goals, and learning assertive skills. In the incubation stage, individuals absorb and assimilate new material. Role playing can assist in this process; however, art exercises perhaps are even more effective in activating the imagination during this stage. Finally, the verification stage involves a return to left brain, logical analysis for evaluation of newly learned assertive concepts and behaviors.Although art and assertiveness seem to be unlikely companions, we speculated that art might be an effective right brain method of engaging and reinforcing assertive behaviors. Also, even though trainers stress the importance of role playing in the practice of newly acquired skills, participants who find this activity difficult or threatening frequently discontinue training. Therefore, the introduction of a nonverbal, introspective means of practice seemed to be a worthwhile idea.
FORMATThe format-moving from low risk to higher risk activitieswas planned carefully. Meetings began with a discussion of the assertiveness topic for that session. Participants then practiced assertive skills. Each session concluded with an art excercise designed to review and deepen the experience of the newly learned skills and to activate the imagination in the implementation of these new behaviors. Participants were encouraged to describe and, in some cases, to act out the insights gained in the art activity. Crayons, pastels, marking pens, and large butcher paper were used as materials.
ExercisesExercises were chosen (after we experimented with many ways of using art in different counseling contexts) for simplicity (artistic talent not required), minimal threat, and capacity to increase self-awareness through references to feelings, behaviors, and body language.Session I: Developing individual definition of assertiveness. Participants were instructed to use life-size outlines of themselves on large butcher paper to create "the assertive person I want to be." They then were asked to des...