Unbinding Assertion and Aggression in Research and Clinical Practice

Abstract

This paper documents widespread failure of the clinical and research literature to differentiate assertiveness from coercive aggressive behavior. Confusion with aggression is tied to early theoretical models, semantic errors, and differential value judgments. Recent concepts and research bearing upon the differentiation of assertion and aggression are reviewed. Standard self-report and behavioral measures of assertion are evaluated in terms of (a) confounding with aggression, and (b) failure to provide separate assessment of aggression. Adequate evidence of discriminant validity (in this case, the ability to discriminate between the constructs of assertion and aggression) is lacking for all measures reviewed. However, particular instruments have considerable promise. Recommendations are made for improving discriminant validity of self-report and behavioral methods of assessing assertion.

Children's Action Tendency Scale: A self-report measure of aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness in children.

“…An aggressive response can be defined as a hostile act involving self-expression at the expense of others, whereas a submissive response is a nonhostile act that involves considering the feelings, power, or authority of others while denying (or not standing up for) one's own rights and feelings. DeGiovanni and Epstein (1978) have pointed out that all of the existing self-report measures of assertiveness in adults are either confounded with aggressiveness or have the potential for confounding and, further, that not one of these measures provides a separate assessment of maladaptive aggressiveness. Therefore, in constructing the present self-report measure, entitled the Children's Action Tendency Scale (CATS), care was taken to unbind aggression from assertion by developing separate indices of aggressiveness, assertiveness, and submissiveness.…”

The Assertive Interaction Coding System

“…This point is particularly relevant in differentiating "assertive" and "aggressive" behaviors. As DeGiovanni and Epstein (1978) have suggested, the use of verbal content coding may be one way to "unbind assertion and aggression in research and clinical practice." A cogent example of this application of the AICS was presented by Rahaim et aL (1980).…”

Assertiveness Training and Christian Values

“…The controversial relationship between assertiveness and aggression has been addressed on numerous occasions (Alberti &: Emmons, 1978;Bufford, 1981;DeGiovanni & Epstein, 1978;Faul & Ausberger, 1980;Moy, 1980;Russell, 1983). Some scales have been more able than others to make the distinction between the two constructs (see Bufford, 1981).…”