ASSERTIVEN

ESS
TRAINING

Beverly Joy D. Manzon

BSN 3-A
Aims:
Alleviates interpersonally based anxiety
Improves interpersonal relationship, self-
esteem, self-control
Improves the ability to stand up for ones
own rights
Clients are assisted to identify the usual
mode of behavior
Brings change in emotion and other
behavior patterns.
Indications:
Chronic depression
Socially anxious perosn or
socially awkward in nature
Shy tendency
Technique:
The therapist will give assertive behavior
training by role playing, coaching,
modeling, and role reversal technique
and then by practicing it in real situation.

Through assertiveness training, the client

will learn social skills and improves
interpersonal relationship, social behavior
and social contact.
Assertive Communication
Assertive behavior helps us
feel good about ourselves and
increase or self-esteem. It
helps us feel good about
other people and increase our
ability to develop satisfying
relationship with others.
Basic Human Rights
The right to be treated with respect
The right to express feeling, opinions, and beliefs
The right to say no without feeling guilty
The right to make mistakes and accept
responsibilities for them
The right to be listened to and taken seriously
The right to change your mind
The right ask what you want
The right to put yourself first, sometimes
The right to set your own priorities
The right to refuse justification for your feelings or
behavior.
Nonassertive Behavior
Individuals who are
nonassertive seek to help
others at the expense of
denying their own basic
human rights. They seldom
let their true feelings show
and often feel hurt and
anxious because they allow
Assertive Behavior
Assertive individuals stand up for their
own rights while protecting the rights
of others. Feelings are expressed
openly and honestly. They assume
responsibility for heir own choices and
allow others to choose for themselves.
They maintain self-respect and respect
for others by treating everyone equally
and wit human dignity.
Aggressive Behavior
Individuals who are aggressive
defend their own basic rights by
violating the basic rights of others.
Feelings are often expressed
dishonestly and inappropriately. They
say what us on their mind often at
the expense of others.

Aggressive behavior commonly result

in put downs leaving the receiver
Passive-Aggressive Behavior
Passive-Aggressive individuals defend
their own rights in expressing resistance
and general obstructiveness in response
to the expectations of others.

This kind of behavior is sometimes

referred to us indirect, or covert,
aggression and takes the form of
passive, nonconfrontative action
Behavioral Components of
Assertive Behavior
Alberti and Emmons (2008)
Eye contact
Fluency
Timing
Listening
Thoughts
Content
Persistence
Roles of the Nurse in
Assertiveness Training
It is important for the nurses t become aware of
and recognize their own behavioral responses. Are
they mostly nonassertive? Assertive? Aggressive?
Passive-Aggressive?

The ability to respond assertively is especially

important to nurse who are committed to further
development of the profession.
References:
Essentials of Mental Health and Psychiatric
Nursing
By KP Neeraja

Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: Concepts

of Care in Evidence-Based Practice
By Mary C Townsend