Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Assertiveness'

Assertiveness is an important skill for children to develop healthy human relations with peers, parents, teachers, and all the other social contacts. When children use assertiveness skills in their social, academic and personal life, they enhance the potential of reaching successful outcomes. There are some positive correlations between assertiveness and self esteem. Thus, investigating the effects of an assertiveness training on the assertiveness and self esteem levels of 5th grade children would contribute to a lot of aspects on the development of children. This study aims to develop an assertiveness program for 5th grade elementary school students and has the purpose of exploring the effects on children&rsquo
s level of assertiveness and self esteem. The participants of the study were from Ankara University Education Development Foundation Primary School. Twenty four students participated in the study. The experimental design was used in which 2 groups were compared on pre test and post test measures by using Assertiveness Inventory and Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory. Moreover, observations of teachers were collected through the record sheets. The experimental group was given an 8 week training. In order to explore the effects of assertiveness training on assertiveness levels of the children independent samples t test was used. The results revealed that there were significant differences between the two groups based on assertiveness scores. Inn order to explore the effects of assertiveness training on self esteem levels of children, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used. However, there were no significant differences found on self esteem scores between the two groups. On the other hand, according to the observations that were collected from the teachers, it could be stated that the training contributed positively to the children&rsquo
s self esteem.

Assertiveness is a learned fundamental interpersonal communication skill that helps individuals to meet the social demands of society. Although various personality factors associated with assertiveness have previously been studied, no recently published studies were identified in the review of assertiveness literature. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between assertiveness and the five factors of personality (extraversion, neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), self-esteem, social anxiety, and shyness to update past research findings. Participants completed the College Self-Expression Scale, the IPIP representation of the NEO PI-R, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale. It was hypothesized that assertiveness would correlate positively with extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and self-esteem. Assertiveness was further hypothesized to correlate negatively with neuroticism, social anxiety, and shyness. Results revealed direct relationships between assertiveness and self-esteem, extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness, as well as inverse relationships to neuroticism, shyness, and fear of disapproval. No significant relationship was found between assertiveness and agreeableness. This study aimed to advance the understanding of the complex personality structure of low-assertive individuals.
B.S.
Bachelors
Sciences
Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine how parental separation is related to eating disturbances and assertiveness in females who struggle with bulimic symptoms. Two-hundred ninety-two undergraduate females from the University of North Texas comprised the subject group. Using pen and paper measures of assertiveness, bulimia, and parental separation, support was found for the prediction that there would be a relationship between assertiveness and parental separation. Likewise, partial support was found for the prediction that there would be a relationship between bulimia and parental separation. Parental separation was found to affect levels of bulimia and assertiveness. Finally, it was found that subjects endorsed greater emotional independence from fathers than from mothers.

The focus of the present study was the measurement of attitudes toward people acting in an assertive manner, compared to those who are acting in an aggressive or passive manner. Earlier studies suggest there are several mitigating factors on social judgments of assertiveness. These include: sex of the assertor (model), sex of the subject, the assertion situation, and the degree of empathy or consideration in the assertive response. The present study sought to investigate the roles of subject sex, model sex, and situation on social judgments of assertiveness. Further, an empathic assertive condition was included to allow a comparison between ratings of empathic assertive and assertive responses. The empathic assertive response paired assertiveness with extra consideration and understanding toward the other person.Each of 150 university undergraduate subjects (75 men and 75 women) reviewed one written vignette from each of four situations (i.e., work, class lecture, telephone solicitation, dating). Model sex and behavioral response style were randomly assigned. A 26 item personality inventory (Interpersonal Attraction Inventory) was completed by each subject for each vignette.Significant main effects were revealed for both behavioral response style and situation. Subject ratings of behavioral response style were as follows, from least to most favorable: aggressive, passive, assertive, and empathic-assertive. Subject ratings of situation were as follows, from least to most favorable: date, telephone solicitor, work, lecture. The only significant interaction was between behavioral response style and situation. There were no significant main effects or interactions for subject sex or model sex.The present results contradict earlier studies in which passive women were rated significantly more positively than assertive women. Given the time elapsed between the present data collection (1993) and the majority of earlier studies (1987 and earlier) it is possible that sex role change is responsible. In addition, results indicate that what was referred to as empathic assertion in the present study may be a socially distinct class of behavior from assertive behavior. Clearly more research is required in order to confirm a societal sex role change, differences between assertiveness and empathic assertiveness, and generalizability of the present results.
Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This study examined the effectiveness of group assertiveness training with individuals who are mildly and moderately mentally retarded. There were 20 participants with 10 each in the control and the experimental group. Each group received the pretest and posttest measures. The experimental group also received four sessions on assertiveness training adapted from the Elwyn Institute's Personal Adjustment Manual, Volume II, Assertiveness Training. The training was developed for moderately and mildly mentally retarded individuals using these strategies: educational lectures, modeling, role-playing, and feedback. The control group received only the pretest and posttest measures. Assertiveness was measured by using three measures: two questionnaires, one consisting of 25 situational questions eliciting individuals to respond as they would in real life and the Chapman Assertiveness Instrument; and one behavioral observation check off chart. A univariate repeated measures anaLysis of variance was completed for each measure. There were significant results with all three measures indicating that the training was effective in increasing assertiveness.

Tese de Doutoramento apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências Sociais, Escola de Educação, Universidade de Bristol
Psychological literature on the social development of children is extensive and many experimental and naturalistic investigations have been carried out. The picture of the young child as egocentric and having limited social competence has been replaced by one of an agent who understands and actively manipulates his social world to achieve goals and establish relationships necessary to his adaptation to a variety of settings. The literature review which forms the first part of the dissertation is structured around four principal topics: studies which demonstrate the origins and development of social interaction in infants and young children; delineation of the field of study and definition of key variables in aggression, assertion, prosocial behaviour, empathy and self-control; theories of aggression and prosocial behaviour; and a review of the main trends in young children"*. social encounters. Although the literature is extensive, comparatively few studies have attempted to integrate the main trends and have, instead, isolated one two types of behaviour for examination. Following the critical review of the literature some of the major issues raised are discussed and research questions and predictions are identified. A naturalistic study of a group of children in a nursery school attached to an English university was designed following pilot work in two similar groups involving 82 childrens and 20 hours of observation. The main study was of observations made on three mornings each week over a period of five months. Focal sampling of target. children in the group of 17 aged between three and four years, was adopted and the majority observed for a total of 120 minutes each, that is for 24 periods of five minutes. The sample unit was one minute during which operationalized variables in aggressive, assertive and prosocial categories and subcategories were recorded, Tests of empathy were also administered and ratings of self-control made limited background data (age, sex, birth order) were also obtained. Reliability of all variables and observations was examined. Construct validity was also studied through the use of convergent and divergent correlations. The main body of the quantitative analysis concerned the relationships among the behaviours categorized to test the predictions and examine the research questions which had been set up. Differences in behaviour were related to the background variables employed and a qualitative analysis, involving over 600 observational units, was carried out to identify the antecedents and consequences of each category of behaviour and the contexts, social interaction and materials with which they were associated. Relationships between interaction style and empathy and self-control were also examined. The final chapter discusses some of the limitations of the study and the findings are interpreted in the light of the dominant and controversial trends in the literature.

The present investigation expanded on the template matching approach (Cone, 1980) to empirically evaluate whether assertiveness is associated with interpersonal success among a group of fourth grade boys. Using popular sociometric status as an index of success in interaction, the performances of 15 popular boys were compared with those of 15 rejected boys in a role-play measure of social behavior. An observation code containing behaviors traditionally associated with assertiveness was compared to a code containing inductively generated behaviors. Popular boys demonstrated significantly higher levels of traditional and inductive behaviors. Total scores on the inductive behavioral, code correlated significantly with self-reported assertiveness, while total scores on the traditional code did not. On an evaluative measure of assertive, aggressive and submissive response alternatives, the two groups showed no significant differences. The utility of the template matching method in empirical target selection and validation was underscored.
Master of Science

Scant research on food advertising and purchase decisions has examined the moderating role of social constructs such as power. In this research, I investigate how consumers’ sense of power influences the persuasiveness of message assertiveness in food advertising. The agentic–communal framework of sense of power and findings suggests that high-power individuals are more likely to adopt and be receptive to strong, competent information and communication strategies than low-power individuals in interpersonal communication. In this research, I propose a new theoretical framework that predicts how message recipients’ sense of power enables or weakens the persuasiveness of the assertive message such as, “You must buy [the name of the advertised food].” More specifically, I looked at the likelihood of purchasing ‘vice’ versus ‘virtue' foods after viewing the ad. I argue that for high-power individuals, an assertive tone in the food ads would increase the purchase of a vice food and decrease the purchase intent of a virtue food. However, for low-power individuals, an assertive tone in the food ads would decrease the purchase of a vice food but increase the purchase intent of a virtue food. Low power is less congruent with assertive messages but more congruent with non-assertive messages. Across three studies, I provide empirical support for the predictions and the congruence mechanism. The results show that high-power consumers process assertive messages more fluently than non-assertive messages. Low-power consumers process assertive messages less fluently than non-assertive messages. Processing fluency increases the relative focus on tastiness in food evaluation, but process dis-fluency increases the relative focus on healthiness in food evaluation. The findings of this research have important implications for developing effective marketing communications and promoting healthy eating.

This study was designed to examine the relationship between husband-wife/assertiveness-nonassertiveness and the level of marital satisfaction. One hundred seventy married couples, who volunteered to participate, served as the sample for the study. Each individual completed the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS) and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Based on the RAS scores of the husband and wife, the couple was assigned to one of four groups. The four groupings were: (1) Husband and wife were both assertive. (2) The husband was assertive and the wife was nonassertive. (3) The husband was nonassertive and the wife was assertive. (4) The husband and wife were both nonassertive.;The four hypotheses, based upon grouping, were: (1) There will be a significant positive correlation (both scoring high) between the husband's DAS score and the wife's DAS score. (2) There will be a significant negative correlation between the husband's DAS score (husband scoring high) and the wife's DAS score (wife scoring low). (3) There will be a significant negative correlation between the husband's DAS score (husband scoring low) and the wife's DAS score (wife scoring high). (4) There will be a significant positive correlation (both scoring low) between the husband's DAS score and the wife's DAS score.;The husbands' and wives' scores on the DAS were statistically analyzed using a Pearson Correlation. Significant, positive correlations were found for all four groups. The hypothesis was accepted for group one, but was rejected for groups two, three, and four. (Note: Across all four groups, the majority of DAS scores for both husbands and wives were in the normal to moderately high range.).

There is a high HIV prevalence rate for Black women in Virginia; however, few scholars have examined how sexual assertiveness and self-esteem against HIV vary within this group. Black women who have low levels of self-esteem may increase their risk for HIV. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to determine if four aspects of sexual assertiveness (sexual initiation, sexual refusal, HIV/AIDS/STD communication, and contraception/STD prevention) differed across demographic categories and were associated with self-esteem in a diversified group of Black women living in Virginia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a community-based sample of 117 adult Black women. The social cognitive theory was the framework that guided this study. ANOVAs were used to determine differences in means of the four sexual assertiveness subscales across the demographic categories (age, sexual orientation, income, education, and relationship status. HIV, AIDS, and sexual transmitted disease communication assertiveness mean scores were significantly higher among higher income Black women (padj=.016) and Black women with a college versus a high school degree (padj=.047). Moreover, Pearson bivariate correlation results showed self-esteem was significantly positively associated with all but one measure (sexual initiation) of sexual assertiveness. Health educators can use the findings of this study to create education initiatives that focus on building self-esteem and sexual assertiveness behaviors among Black women as an HIV/AIDS prevention method.

This research details a series of questionnaire and experimental studies investigating the structure of unassertiveness and the link between unassertiveness and depression. Seven studies with sample sizes greater than 100, were carried out. Study one focused on the design and validation of a questionnaire to measure understanding of assertive rights and assertive responsibilities. Test retest, reliability, split half reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and content validity were found to be adequate. Study two validated an amended version of the above scale. Changes in scoring method resulted in increased reliability and validity. Study three replicated and expanded Chan's (1993) study and investigated the construct of assertion in a British population, the relationship between assertiveness and assertion related rights and responsibilities and how all of these factors related to emotional disorder. Levels of understanding of assertiveness rights and assertiveness responsibilities were correlated with depression, state and trait anxiety. A step-wise regression revealed the four factors of assertion related to high levels of depression and high levels of state and trait anxiety. Study four determined the factors of depression and their predictive ability of a lack of assertiveness. Depression was factor analysed and a step wide regression demonstrated that only cognitive factors were predictive of a lack of assertiveness. Study five focused on the design and psychometric testing of a scale to measure the presence of cognitive distortions. The data collected was used to demonstrate the same forms of validity and reliability found in study one and two. Study six considered the possibility that the cognitive components of depression proposed in the literature are also present in those who lack assertiveness. Both experimental and questionnaire techniques are implemented. Stroop testing was utilised to assess attention biasing, computerised free recall memory tasks were used to assess memory biasing and cognitive depressive aetiology were assess by questionnaire. Comparisons were made between a high depression group, a low depression group a high assertion group and a low assertion group. The results demonstrate that episodes of unassertiveness are generated by an interaction between continual unassertive specific life experiences and a critical unassertive related incident. The continual presentation of negative assertion related incidents throughout life generates the activation of dysfunctional assertion related attitudes, which in turn generate and are maintained by a negative cognitive triad. Study 7 is a clinical trial, which looked at the components of study 6 in a population of 30 individuals who had been diagnosed unassertive by a clinician and were participating in an assertion training class. In this study the participants were tested before and after an assertion training course, to assess the changes that occur as a result. of assertion training. These finding corroborate that the factors found in study six generalise to a clinical population. These studies have highlighted that unassertiveness has a greater cognitive emphasis than previously thought. As a consequence of these findings a cognitive model of unassertiveness is presented.

The present exploratory study focused on international graduate students who might experience some difficulties with major life transitions and studying in a different culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personal assertiveness and social support satisfaction among international graduate students. The researcher hypothesized that assertive international graduate students would report higher levels of seeking out and marshalling social support. Thus, they would more likely be satisfied with their perceived social support. The present study also examined several demographic variables such as ethnicity, sex, TOEFL scores, GPA, and length of stay in the U.S., as possible factors affecting their assertiveness and perceived social support satisfaction. The major findings indicated that assertiveness did not always augment social support satisfaction in the current sample. However, the results of the study demonstrated the effects of ethnicity and several other variables in predicting the levels of assertiveness and perceived social support satisfaction among international graduate students. The study also suggested several implications for future research regarding the relationship between interpersonal variables and perceived social support satisfaction.
Department of Psychological Science

Although the overall quantity of international research has increased, existent studies tend to adopt an instrument developed in one culture to use in the other, leading to measurement bias. In addition, previous cross-cultural research mainly focuses on comparisons between collectivist and individualistic backgrounds (e.g., American vs. Chinese) without considering the similarities and differences within the collectivist societies (e.g., China vs. Mexico). This dissertation project has two purposes, with Study 1 aiming to examine measurement equivalence of two widely used instruments while Study 2 investigating if an attachment-based two-serial mediation model remained constant among three cross-cultural samples collected from the US, Mexico, and China. A total of 1211 participants, including 360 American university students, 441 Mexican students, and 410 Chinese students participated in the study. Differential item functioning (DIF) in lordif package in R and structural equation modeling (SEM) in Mplus 8.1 were adopted for Study 1 and 2, respectively. The results of Study 1 indicated the proposed instruments were culturally invariant in English, Spanish, and Chinese with some modifications. Study 2 showed that assertiveness/self-conscious emotions mediated the association between adult attachment and depression/aggression only in the US group. However, the two-serial mediation model in which the link between adult attachment and depression/aggression via assertiveness to self-conscious emotions was supported in Mexican and Chinese groups, not in the US group. Findings from these two cross-cultural adult attachment studies provide additional insights for future attachment research and useful implications for psychologists working with diverse individuals from the US, Mexico, and China.

The current study was designed to examine preschool girls' physical and verbal assertion in the presence of varying numbers of boys. Two girls from each of 12 classes were asked to play in three play groups: One that contained six girls (all girls playgroup), one that contained four girls and two boys (majority girls playgroup), and one that contained two girls and four boys (minority girls playgroup). The frequency of episodes of physical and verbal assertion were analyzed across the three playgroups. Unexpectedly, there was no significant difference in the frequency of physical and verbal assertion between the three playgroups. The results did not support the hypothesis; however, there was a strong positive relation between the two most sociable boys' levels of physical assertion and the two target girls' level of physical assertion in all three playgroups. Results are discussed in terms of the need for a more complex model of understanding boys' influence on girls.

Two studies were designed to test the hypothesis that the severity of an anticipated negative consequence deters women's assertiveness more than the probability of an anticipated consequence. The first study, involving a 2 x 2 factorial design, manipulated two levels of anticipated severity (low versus high) and two levels of anticipated probability (low versus high). The type of response studied involved the refusal of an unreasonable request. Female undergraduate psychology students (N = 198) were randomly assigned to view one of four videotapes reflecting these conditions. After viewing the videotapes, participants were asked to rate their intentions to act assertively (BI) and to rate other variables which could potentially be coeffects or mediators of BI (e.g., anxiety, competence). In study 2, 151 female psychology students completed a survey in which they were required to imagine their own anticipated negative consequences, severities, and probabilities for five vignettes involving the refusal of an unreasonable request. Participants in study 2 completed questions about similar variables to study 1. Personality variables, including social desirability, assertiveness (for studies 1 and 2), and anxiety (for study 2) were measured to see if they moderated the results. Path models showed that in all cases, severity and probability affected BI, either directly or indirectly through distress/low self-efficacy or unfairness/need for support. The hypothesis was mostly confirmed in that in almost all cases, severity contributed more variance to BI than did probability. All personality factors moderated the results some of the time. Support was found for both the rational choice and cognitive distortion models of assertiveness. The results were discussed in reference to Beck et al.'s (1985) theory of social anxiety and implications for assertiveness training.

In recent years medical societies have begun to recognize the effects and benefits of good communication between physician and patient. Like any other relationship, the exchange of information with fluent understanding creates a stronger bond of trust. Most applied research conducted in the area of physician-patient communication concentrates on physician behaviors which the patient views as problematic. This thesis focuses on patient assertiveness and its relationship to physician-patient satisfaction in the consultation process. Specifically, the study focuses on the relationship between patient assertiveness and physician-patient satisfaction. For the study the researcher developed a patient questionnaire and pre- and post-physician questionnaires to assess patient assertiveness. This factor relates to outcomes of satisfaction from the physician-patient consultation. Twenty doctors and two hundred patients participated in the study. The implications of these finding should provide insight into the patient-physician consultation process.

Antecedents: Una de les estratègies més importants per a prevenir l’addicció és el desenvolupament d’actituds desfavorables cap al consum de drogues. Múltiples recerques han posat de manifest que les actituds modulen els comportaments i en concret, sabem que poden actuar com un factor de risc o protecció cap al consum de substàncies. Les actituds al seu torn, es veuen influenciades per diferents variables i en aquesta recerca ens centrarem a analitzar en quina mesura es veuen influenciades per l’assertivitat i la fortalesa psicològica. L’objectiu d’aquesta recerca va ser predir l’actitud vers al consum de substàncies sobre la base de les característiques d’assertivitat i fortalesa psicològica. Plantegem com a hipòtesi que la major assertivitat i fortalesa psicològica afavoreixen una actitud negativa vers al consum de drogues. Metodologia: Es presenta una recerca amb disseny observacional, descriptiu i relacional de tall transversal. La mostra de participants és de conveniència i està formada per 200 pacients que reben tractament per trastorns per ús de substància, en 8 centres especialitzats en addiccions de Teheran. Comptem amb 138 homes (69,2%) i 62 dones (30,8%), amb una edat entre 20 i 40 anys (M=32,50 i DE= .94). La mitjana d’anys de consum és de 3,14 (DE= .98), sent l’opi la droga principal de consum en el 40,20%, seguida de les metamfetamines o “”crystal”” (15,16%), el crack (9%) i l’heroïna (8%). L’actitud, com a variable criteri, s’avalua amb el Qüestionari d’actitud de Nazari. L’assertivitat i la fortalesa psicològica, com a variables predictives, s’avaluen respectivament amb l’Inventari d’Assertivitat de Gambrill i Richey i el Qüestionari de fortalesa de Barton. Les anàlisis inclouen estadístics descriptius, anàlisis de correlació de Pearson, anàlisi de la variància i de regressió múltiple, amb SPSS. Resultats: La mostra està formada majoritàriament per homes (69,2%; n=138), joves entre 20 i 30 anys (65,8%; n=132), amb nivells de formació secundària o inferior (67,2%; n=136), casats (48%; n=96) o divorciats (18%; n=36), de classe social baixa (46%; n=82) i mitjana (35%; n=70) i majoritàriament amb ocupació (68%; n=136). La principal droga de consum en homes i dones és l’opi (40,2%; n=80) i el glass (15,16%; n=30). Els homes consumeixen en major proporció heroïna (9,42%), crack (12,32%) i haixix 86,52%). S’observa que en els nivells de formació de grau universitaris es consumeix en major percentatge el crack, haixix i èxtasi. A menor nivell de formació major percentatge de consumidors d’opi, glass i heroïna. En les variables psicològiques estudiades d’actitud, fortalesa psicològica i assertivitat no s’observen diferències significatives respecte al conjunt de variables del perfil psicosocial i clínic. Tan sols es detecta una diferència significativa en la mostra, sent l’actitud cap al consum de drogues més favorable en classes socials baixes. Els resultats van mostrar que existeix una relació negativa i significativa entre la fortalesa psicològica i l’actitud cap al consum de drogues (-.709), i igualment entre assertivitat i actitud cap al consum de drogues (-.791). Els resultats indiquen que l’assertivitat, amb coeficient estàndard - 0,650, i la fortalesa psicològica, amb coeficient estàndard - 0,381, són predictors significatius de l’actitud cap al consum de drogues. Conclusions: Les variables psicològiques de fortalesa i assertivitat prediuen en un 65% l’actitud vers al consum de drogues. Aquests resultats tenen implicacions majoritàriament en l’àmbit de la prevenció primària.
Antecedentes: Una de las estrategias más importantes para prevenir la adicción es el desarrollo de actitudes desfavorables hacia el consumo de drogas. Múltiples investigaciones han puesto de manifiesto que las actitudes modulan los comportamientos y en concreto, sabemos que pueden actuar como un factor de riesgo o protección hacia el consumo de sustancias. Las actitudes a su vez, se ven influenciadas por diferentes variables y en esta investigación nos centraremos en analizar en qué medida se ven influenciadas por la asertividad y la fortaleza psicológica. El objetivo de esta investigación fue predecir la actitud hacia el consumo de sustancias en base a las características de asertividad y fortaleza psicológica. Planteamos como hipótesis que la mayor asertividad y fortaleza psicológica favorecen una actitud negativa hacia el consumo de drogas. Metodología: Se presenta una investigación con diseño observacional, descriptivo y relacional de corte transversal. La muestra de participantes es de conveniencia y está formada por 200 pacientes que reciben tratamiento por trastornos por uso de sustancia, en 8 centros especializados en adicciones de Teherán. Contamos con 138 hombres (69,2%) y 62 mujeres (30,8%), con una edad entre 20 y 40 años (M=32,50 y DE= .94). La media de años de consumo es de 3,14 (DE= .98), siendo el opio la droga principal de consumo en el 40,20%, seguida de la metanfetaminas o “crystal” (15,16%), el crack (9%) y la heroína (8%). La actitud, como variable criterio, se evalúa con el Cuestionario de actitud de Nazari. La asertividad y la fortaleza psicológica, como variables predictivas, se evalúan respectivamente con el Inventario de Asertividad de Gambrill y Richey y el Cuestionario de fortaleza de Barton. Los análisis incluyen estadísticos descriptivos, análisis de correlación de Pearson, análisis de la variancia y de regresión múltiple, con SPSS. Resultados: La muestra está formada mayoritariamente por hombres (69,2%; n=138), jóvenes entre 20 y 30 años (65,8%; n=132), con niveles de formación secundaria o inferior (67,2%; n=136), casados (48%; n=96) o divorciados (18%; n=36), de clase social baja (46%; n=82) y media (35%; n=70) y mayoritariamente con empleo (68%; n=136). La principal droga de consumo en hombres y mujeres es el opio (40,2%; n=80) y el glass (15,16%; n=30). Los hombres consumen en mayor proporción heroína (9,42%), crack (12,32%) y hachís 86,52%). Se observa que en los niveles de formación de grado universitarios se consume en mayor porcentaje el crack, hachís y éxtasis. A menor nivel de formación mayor porcentaje de consumidores de opio, glass y heroína. En las variables psicológicas estudiadas de actitud, fortaleza psicológica y asertividad no se observan diferencias significativas respecto al conjunto de variables del perfil psicosocial y clínico. Tan solo se detecta una diferencia significativa en la muestra, siendo la actitud hacia el consumo de drogas más favorable en clases sociales bajas. Los resultados mostraron que existe una relación negativa y significativa entre la fortaleza psicológica y la actitud hacia el consumo de drogas (-.709**), e igualmente entre asertividad y actitud hacia el consumo de drogas (-.791**). Los resultados indican que la asertividad, con coeficiente estándar - 0,650, y la fortaleza psicológica, con coeficiente estándar - 0,381, son predictores significativos de la actitud hacia el consumo de drogas. Conclusiones: Las variables psicológicas de fortaleza y asertividad predicen en un 65% la actitud hacia el consumo de drogas. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones mayoritariamente en el ámbito de la prevención primaria.
Background: One of the most important strategies to prevent addiction is the development of unfavourable attitudes towards drug use. Multiple investigations have shown that attitudes modulate behaviours and specifically, we know that they can act as a risk factor or protection towards substance use. Attitudes, in turn, are influenced by different variables and in this research we will focus on analysing to what extent they are influenced by the assertiveness and psychological hardiness. The objective of this research was to predict the attitude towards substance use based on the characteristics of assertiveness and psychological hardiness. We hypothesized that both assertiveness and psychological hardiness favour a negative attitude towards drug use. Methodology: An investigation with observational, descriptive and relational design of cross section is presented. The sample of participants is of convenience and is made up of 200 patients receiving treatment for substance use disorders, in 8 specialized addiction centres in Tehran. We have 138 men (69.2%) and 62 women (30.8%), with an age between 20 and 40 years (M=32, 50 and SD= .94). The mean number of years of consumption is 3.14 (SD= .98), with opium being the main drug of consumption in 40.20%, followed by methamphetamines or “crystal” (15.16%), the crack (9%) and heroin (8%). Attitude, as a criterion variable, is evaluated with the Nazari Attitude Questionnaire. Assertiveness and psychological hardiness, as predictive variables, are evaluated respectively with the Gambrill and Richey Assertiveness Inventory and the Barton hardiness Questionnaire. The analyses include descriptive statistics of the sample profile, Pearson correlation analysis, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis, with the SPSS program. Results: The sample is formed mainly by men (69.2%; n = 138), young people between 20 and 30 years old (65.8%; n = 132), with secondary or lower levels of education (67.2%; n = 136), married (48%; n = 96) or divorced (185; n = 36), of low social class (46%; n = 82) and middle (35%; n = 70) and mostly with employment (68 %; n = 136). The main drug of use in men and women is opium (40.2%; n = 80) and glass (15.16%; n = 30). Men consume heroin (9.42%), crack (12.32%) and hashish 86.52%) in a higher proportion. It is observed that crack, hashish and ecstasy are consumed in a higher percentage in university degree training levels. The lower the level of training, the higher the percentage of opium, glass and heroin consumers. In the studied psychological variables of attitude, psychological hardiness and assertiveness, no significant differences were observed with respect to the set of variables of the psychosocial and clinical profile. Only a significant difference was detected in the sample, with the attitude towards drug consumption being more favourable in lower social classes. The results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between psychological hardiness and attitude towards drug use (-.709 **), and also between assertiveness and attitude towards drug use (-.791 **). The results indicate that assertiveness, with a standard coefficient - 0.650, and psychological hardiness, with a standard coefficient - 0.381, are significant predictors of attitude towards drug use. Conclusions: The psychological variables of hardiness and assertiveness predict 65% the attitude towards drug use. These results have mostly implications in the field of primary prevention.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between identification with feminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness, by examining three potential mediators of that relationship: self-objectification, empowered entitlement, and self-silencing. Cross-sectional survey data were collected via online survey from 188 women. Results from correlational analyses indicated that active commitment to feminist beliefs was significantly related to lower levels of self-objectification and self-silencing and higher levels of empowered entitlement, but was not related to sexual assertiveness. Identification with nonfeminist beliefs (passive acceptance of sexism) was significantly related to higher levels of self-objectification and self-silencing and decreased empowered entitlement, as well as lower levels of sexual assertiveness. Baron and Kenny's (1986) regression approach was used to explore potential mediators of the relationship between identification with nonfeminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness. In individual regression analyses, self-silencing fully mediated the relationship between identification with nonfeminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness. Regression analyses examining empowered entitlement as a mediator approached significance and analyses examining self-objectification as mediator were non-significant. An integrative analysis utilizing Preacher and Hayes' (2008) method for evaluating indirect effects in multiple mediator models was used to further explore the impact of all three mediator variables and two covariates (age and education level) on the relationship between nonfeminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness. The overall model accounted for a significant portion of the variance in sexual assertiveness and the total indirect effect of nonfeminist beliefs on sexual assertiveness through the set of mediators was significant, whereas the direct effect of nonfeminist beliefs on sexual assertiveness was not significant, indicating that, after controlling for covariates, the set of three mediators together (self-objectification, empowered entitlement, and self-silencing) fully mediated the relationship between nonfeminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness. However, self-silencing appeared to contribute the only unique significant mediation in the model, accounting for approximately 84% of the total indirect effect. Unique indirect effects for self-objectification and empowered entitlement were not significant. Implications for understanding the relationship between identification with nonfeminist beliefs and sexual assertiveness and directions for future research are discussed.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 1999.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 49 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-49).

Incivility is a low-level form of violence that has been found to threaten safety and has gained increasing attention from healthcare leaders. Incivility at work causes distractions and threatens the culture of safety. Locations providing mental health services are among such high-risk areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse leader’s educational approach to improve civility in the mental health (MH) nursing workplace using assertiveness training with role-play.

The civility score in this study was measured by staffs’ perceptions of eight items: respect; conflict resolution; cooperation; anti-discrimination; value differences; diversity acceptance; personal interest; and reliability of team members. In this study, the principal investigator (PI), a MH nurse leader, prepared and implemented a six-month plan of evidence-based actions intended to improve civility and to strengthen the sense of community.

Role-play exercises were included in assertiveness training sessions. Personalized brochures that summarized information and future direction for improving civility were prepared and distributed.

Civility awareness and assertiveness were reinforced by sharing literature, facilitating discussions, and practicing occasional role-plays to problem-solve past and current incivilities as they surfaced. Follow-up measurements showed a rapid and sharp increase in civility, with improved scores for each of the eight items. These findings support continued use of assertiveness training with role-play as an effective approach for improving civility in a culturally diverse MH nursing staff. Limitations of this study are discussed.

Bibliography: leaves 123-136.
Recognition of the need to develop black employees' interpersonal skills in order that they cope with the demands of the western business environment formed the backdrop to this study. The use of currently available self-report measures of assertiveness to assess behaviour change was questioned in terms of their psychometric properties and relevance to the black employee working in South African organisations. The aim of this study, therefore, was to develop a self-report instrument to measure assertiveness of black employees in work organisations. Another objective was the assessment of criterion-related validity. Information gathered from 12 in-depth interviews was used in the writing of new items and assisted in the modification of items from available self-report assertiveness measures. A preliminary questionnaire, consisting of 55 items was subsequently developed. After a number of changes, the questionnaire, consisting of a four-point Likert scale, was distributed to 80 potential respondents for the pilot study. A response rate of 37.5% enabled the analysis of 30 pilot study questionnaires. After further changes, 450 questionnaires were distributed through training and personnel managers from 10 major South African organisations sampling both the commercial and manufacturing business sectors. A response rate of 57% (240 questionnaires) allowed for the analysis of 234 usable questionnaires. The statistical analysis of responses was done by using both item and factor analytic techniques. After two phases of analysis a 20 item instrument with a three factor structure emerged. The first factor was labelled "anxiety behaviour in interpersonal situations", the second, "collaborative and complimentary behaviour", and the third factor "confronting behaviour". A sub-sample (n = 48) of peer-and self-ratings were correlated for each of the three factors to establish criterion-related validity. Results of this study supported the multidimensional and situation specific nature of the assertiveness construct. The value of developing measuring instruments suited to local conditions was also emphasised. However, the inadequate construct validity and reliability of the instrument indicates the need for further research before - application of the measure in decision making regarding the assertive behaviour of black employees.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 152 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-120).

First-year college students have many new responsibilities and challenges. They are faced with increasing autonomy and must find resources and people to help guide them. Students with disabilities face an even greater need to be independent and juggle more responsibilities, as they must disclose their disabilities to campus personnel if they need accommodations and become a self-advocate. In order to self-advocate, students must feel comfortable with being assertive. This study examined the differences in comfort with assertive behaviors between students with and without disabilities at three different types of postsecondary institutions (junior college, 4-year regional university, and 4-year Research 1 university). Two hundred seventy-eight freshman and sophomore students completed a questionnaire concerning their comfort with many different assertive behaviors. The following three variables were examined: a) college students' comfort with overall assertiveness; b) college students' comfort with verbal assertiveness; and c) college students' comfort with prosocial verbal skills. iv There were no significant differences between students with disabilities and students without disabilities in terms of their discomfort with assertive behaviors on any of the three variables. Males were more comfortable with assertive behaviors than females in terms of their overall assertiveness and their verbal assertiveness. Students from the 2-year junior college were more comfortable with overall assertiveness and verbal assertiveness than students at either the 4-year regional university or the 4-year Research 1 university. There were no differences between groups in terms of their prosocial verbal skills. Conclusions about the differences found in the study are reported. Recommendations for disability service providers are provided, as well as suggestions for future research.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2001.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 175 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-84).

This study examined the psychosocial variables of assertiveness, intimate relationships, interpersonal distrust, and social self-esteem in eating disordered and non-eating disordered women. Assertiveness was examined between three eating disordered subgroups, namely, restricting anorexics, previously anorexic bulimics, and never anorexic bulimics, in an attempt to answer the question: Are there differences in assertiveness between these subgroups? Intimate relationships, interpersonal distrust, and social self-esteem were examined between the overall eating disordered group and the non-eating disordered group. It was expected that eating disordered women, as compared to non-eating disordered women would report more difficulty in establishing and maintaining intimate relationships, higher interpersonal distrust, and lower social self-esteem. The subjects were 82 females (41 eating disordered and 41 non-eating disordered), aged 19 to 40 years. Eating disordered subjects were recruited from a local support group for women with eating disorders. None of the eating disordered subjects were hospitalized at the time of testing. Eating disordered subjects were classified using the DSM-III (1980) criteria for anorexia nervosa and Russell's (1979) criteria for bulimia nervosa. Non-eating disordered subjects were nursing students at a local community college. Non-eating disordered subjects were screened using the Eating Attitudes Test in order to prevent the inclusion of women with mild eating disorders into the comparison group. All subjects completed a battery of tests including: The Eating Attitudes Test; The Assertion Inventory; The Adult Self-Perception Profile; The Eating Disorder Inventory; The Social Self-Esteem Inventory; arid a demographic information sheet. All subjects were weighed and their height measured. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was computed for the assertiveness measures of discomfort and response probability, examining differences between the three eating disordered subgroups. No significant differences were found. Post hoc analysis between the overall eating disordered group and the non-eating disordered group revealed highly significant differences between the two groups on both assertiveness measures (ϱ<.001). An examination of the means revealed that the eating disordered group experiences more discomfort in situations requiring assertiveness, and are less likely to respond assertively in those situations. Intimate relationships, interpersonal distrust, and social self-esteem were tested using a one-way multivariate analysis of variance. Differences were tested between the eating disordered and non-eating disordered groups. Highly significant differences were found between the groups on all three measures (ϱ<.001). An examination of the means revealed that the eating disordered group have more difficulty in forming and maintaining intimate relationships, a greater degree of interpersonal distrust, and less social self-esteem. Implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Education, Faculty of
Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of
Graduate

This research looks at how people's online shopping attitudes change when retailers use different language to make product recommendations. It shows that certain language can result in the perception of the retailer and product being more positive, depending on how much attachment is felt towards the retailer, how well known the product is and the product's price. The research presents a new way of analysing the effectiveness of online product recommendations.

El presente estudio busca determinar la relación entre la asertividad y los estilos de afrontamiento de un grupo de trabajadores de una empresa familiar del sector Avícola en Perú. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 77 trabajadores, 44 hombres y 33 mujeres, con edades entre los 18 y más de 55 años, pertenecientes a las áreas administrativas de la empresa. Los instrumentos empleados fueron el Test de Afrontamiento (COPE) adaptado a Perú (Casuso, 1996) y el Test de Asertividad Rathus la versión Costaricense (León y Vargas, 2009). Los resultados revelaron la existencia de una correlación moderada entre ambas variables, así como correlaciones internas entre los estilos de afrontamiento y entre los tipos de asertividad. Las cuales fueron discutidas en cuatro hallazgos principales: a) Relación entre asertividad y el estilo de afrontamiento enfocado en el problema; b) Relación entre asertividad y el estilo de afrontamiento enfocado en la emoción; c) Asertividad en la empresa familiar; y d) Estilos de afrontamiento en la empresa familia. Finalmente, se dieron las recomendaciones para la futura gestión de ambas variables en la empresa donde se aplicaron las pruebas.
The present study aimed determine the relationship between Assertiveness and Coping styles of a group of workers from a Family Business of the Poultry sector in Peru. The sample consisted of 77 workers, 44 men and 33 women, aged between 18 and over 55, belonging to the administrative areas of the company. The instruments that were used the Coping Test adapted to Peru (Casuso, 1996) and the Rathus Assertiveness Test, the Costa Rican version (León and Vargas, 2009). The results revealed the existence of a moderate correlation between both variables, as well as internal correlations between coping styles and between assertiveness types. Which were discussed in four main findings: a) Relationship between assertiveness and coping style focused on the problem; b) Relationship between assertiveness and coping style focused on emotion; c) Assertiveness in family firms; and d) Coping styles in family firms. Finally, recommendations were given for the future management of both variables in the company where the tests were applied.
Tesis

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO
COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIOR
CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO
PROGRAMA DE EXCELENCIA ACADEMICA
Todos os fenômenos que fogem ao controle do professor e da escola, da dispersão às chacinas, são expressões de violência? As muitas facetas da violência que atravessam o cotidiano das escolas têm desestabilizado as práticas pedagógicas e, ao mesmo tempo, têm sido desafiadas pela complexidade léxica e semântica que o termo abarca. Partimos do pressuposto que definir a violência escolar é, antes, afirmá-la como socialmente construída, discursada e culturalmente representada em sua própria designação. Mas é, neste sentido, que o termo é abordado/negociado nos cursos de formação docente? Se a violência escolar é iminente, como são formados, hoje, os futuros professores ante tal desafio? A pesquisa visa contribuir com uma reflexão sobre estas questões. Temos como objetivo apreender os discursos disputados sobre o conceito e as práticas de enfrentamento da violência nos cursos de licenciatura. Traçamos um diálogo entre o estatuto do pensamento proposto por Hannah Arendt e alguns pesquisadores da psicologia do desenvolvimento, tais como Deluty, Del Prette, Vinha, Leme e Vicentin, com o intuito de colaborar com a fundamentação de propostas de enfrentamento dos comportamentos agressivos e submissos que se expressam ante conflitos interpessoais. Quanto ao recorte conceitual do termo violência social, baseamo-nos em estudos de Velho, Da Matta, Maffesoli, sobressaltando as contribuições de Hannah Arendt. Quanto ao recorte conceitual do termo violência escolar nos aportamos teoricamente em Debarbieux, Itani, Charlot, Arroyo, Abramovay e Candau. Foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa em três Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) cariocas: PUC-Rio, UFRJ e UERJ. Analisamos, num primeiro momento, os currículos e ementas dos cursos de filosofia e sociologia destas três IES. Posteriormente, baseada na metodologia da análise de conteúdo de Bardin, entrevistamos dezoito licenciandos e dois professores visando ratificar a operacionalização dos conteúdos curriculares apregoados. Algumas considerações foram levantadas: (1) a indistinção conceitual dos termos violência e outros utilizados como, dele, sinônimo pode torná-lo categoria segregadora de um grupo rotulado como violento-infrator; (2) as novas facetas da violência que surgem contemporaneamente nas escolas corroboram as fragilidades das categorias do público a qual a escola hoje busca atender; (3) a problemática da violência se inter-relaciona com a crise da autoridade docente quando esta não se distancia de um agir autoritário; (4) a escassez de discussão sobre a violência escolar evidente nos cursos de formação docente fomenta o descaso com o tema e pode, ainda, constituir-se como um dos fatores propulsores da taxa de 75 porcento de abandono nos cursos de licenciatura, segundo o INEP. Ficou clara, por fim, a urgência das IES assumirem e enfrentarem as desestabilizações provocadas pela questão da violência e que o fomento de um espaço/tempo exclusivo à prática do pensamento nas escolas pode constituir-se como uma possibilidade de seu enfrentamento.
Are all phenomena that go beyond teacher s and the school s control, from dispersion to mass killings, are these expressions of violence? Many of the facets of violence crossing routine school life have destabilized pedagogical experience and at the same time, have been challenged by the lexical and semantic complexity comprised by the term. We assume that defining school violence, means in reality affirming it as socially constructed, addressed and culturally represented in its own designation. But is it, in the sense that the term is approached /negotiated in the courses of teachers training? If school violence is imminent, how are future teachers trained, today, in light of such challenge? The research has as an objective to contribute with deeper thinking about such questions. We have as objective to get the disputed discourses about the concept and the practices of coping with violence in undergraduate courses. We traced a dialogue between the statute of thought proposed by Hannah Arendt and some researchers of Developmental Psychology, such as Deluty, Del Prette, Vinha, Leme and Vicentin, aiming to collaborate with core foundation of proposals of how to face aggressive and submissive behaviors, expressed by interpersonal conflicts. Regarding the conceptual cutout of the term social violence, we have relied on studies of Velho, Da Matta, Maffesoli, emphasizing Hannah Arendt s contributions. As to the conceptual cutout of the term school violence, we dock theoretically in Debarbieux, Itani, Charlot, Arroyo, Abramovay e Candau. A qualitative research was performed in three Higher Education Institutions in Rio de Janeiro: PUC-Rio, UFRJ e UERJ. At first, we analized the curricula and the syllabus of the Philosophy and Sociology Courses of those three institutions. Subsequently, based on Bardin s methodology of analysis of content, we interviewed 18 undergraduate students and 2 teachers, aiming to confirm the real operation of the contents proclaimed. Some considerations were raised: (1) the lack of distinction between the terms violence and others, employed as its synonyms, may make it part of a segregated category of a group labeled as violent offender; (2) the new facets of violence that arise contemporaneously in schools, corroborate the weaknesses of the public in which the school presently seeks to meet. (3) the problem of violence is interrelated to teachers authority crisis when it is not far from an authoritarian act; (4) the lack of discussion about violence in schools, evident in the teachers training courses promotes the neglect of the subject and may also constitute as one of the propelling factors for the index of 75 percent of drop put in the undergraduate programs, according to INEP. Finally, it became clear, the IES s urgency for assuming and facing the destabilization provoked by the question of violence and the promotion of a space and time dedicated for the practice of thought in schools may constitute a possibility of this confrontation.

This thesis seeks to analyse the relationship between China\'s assertiveness and US hegemony in Latin America in the period 2001-2015. The analysis was done by mixing quantitative and qualitative methods, and has as a central hypothesis that the American hegemony (which is assumed in retraction) negatively affected China\'s assertiveness in the region. The thesis consists of seven chapters, ranging from general conclusions to particular conclusions. The hypothesis proves empirically, but variations are also found between countries and variations by economic activity. I conclude that China approached Latin America through a strategy of accommodative assertiveness, and Latin American countries responded to that approach aiming at diversifying their relationships.
Esta tese busca analisar a relação entre a ascensão da China e a hegemonia norte-americana na America Latina no período de 2001-2015. A analise foi feita misturando métodos quantitativos e qualitativos, e tem como hipótese central que a hegemonia norte-americana (que se assume em retração) afetou negativamente a ascensão da China. A tese está composta por sete capítulos, indo de conclusões gerais a conclusões particulares. A hipótese se prova empiricamente, mas também se encontram variações entre países e variações por atividade econômica. Concluo que a China se aproximou da América Latina por meio de uma estratégia de assertividade acomodativa e os países latino-americanos responderam a essa abordagem visando diversificar suas relações.