Assertiveness
From WikEd
Contents |
Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of
The UIUC Counseling Center defines assertiveness as, �? the ability to express yourself and your rights without violating the rights of others�? (UIUC). It can also be defined as, “Inclined to bold or confident assertion; aggressively self-assured�? (Dictionary.com).
Is assertiveness training part of most undergraduate programs to help beginning teachers gain confidence? Since it appears to be such a valuable tool for all teachers to have,it seems that it would be beneficial to every beginning teacher. Also, this is a useful life skill to have as well. This would be useful not only in dealing with students in the classroom but also for dealing with other interactions in the work place as well. B. Orenic==Application in and effects on classrooms and similar settings==
Assertiveness can be applied to the classroom in one of two ways:
1.Assertiveness training for students to foster growth and resistance to bullying.
2.Assertiveness training for teachers to enhance teacher control in the classroom.
Evidence of effectiveness
For Students: There are many resources on the internet concerning assertiveness training to overcome adversity, more specifically, bullying LINK. The resources suggest several steps for teachers to “train�? students to stand up against bullies, making the children more assertive and resistant to bullies:
Respond to taunts, insults, or teasing with a bland response (“Oh.�? “That’s your opinion.�? “Maybe.�?) Don’t let bullies see that they have upset you.
Get away from the situation if you start to get very angry
Say “No�? firmly and loudly if you want to do something that someone tells you to do. Stand straight up and look that person in the eye when you say it.
Refuse to let others talk you into doing something that you will be sorry for – even if they dare you! (Victims: Preventing…).
These are the suggestions from one source to increase assertiveness.
There is a lack of empirical studies that support assertiveness training in classrooms for the benefit of the students. Many sites exist that have steps and advice such as that listed above, for students to become more assertive, however each of them merely contains suggestions from parents and teachers, without “formal,�? researched evidence.
Teachers, too, have many resources available to learn to be more assertive themselves. The advantages an assertive teacher brings benefit the students and the teacher. An assertive teacher gains more control over their classroom, presenting, not an angry front, but a strong personality that exudes confidence and control over most situations (Showing them..). An interesting remark the Showing them.. program makes is that an experienced teaching assistant or team teacher can reinforce classroom assertiveness, especially with a newer teacher that may have trouble asserting themselves in the classroom.
Assertiveness comes with experience. Many teachers will comment that they feel more assertive in their classes as the school year progresses and as they have more years of experience.
Critics and their rationale
At this time there are no critics of assertiveness training for students and teachers. There are however many studies about the assertiveness involved in gender biases in the classroom. Scrimgeour writes that, males in the class are generally more outspoken and assertive, monopolizing the teacher’s attention and exercising control over the direction of the class, socially. The study suggests that teachers of both sexes are more attentive to boys in their classes. The sex of the teacher was inconclusive in this study because, even though there were 2 male and 2 female teachers, the subject pool was too small to draw a conclusion. The study concludes that the natural assertiveness of boys in the class, due both to “gender identities�? and social bias, will dominate a classroom and a teacher’s attention if the teacher does not make the conscious effort to distribute attention and discourage the assertive, dominating tendencies of the males in class.
Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations
Individual assertiveness has been found to vary within the American culture. A study found a large difference in communicative assertive behavior between individuals living in the New York area and Upper Midwest (Stigler et al.2005). One significant factor involved may be the distribution of races between the two regions. The Upper Midwest is predominantly Caucasian while the New York area is more heterogeneous with large segments of Latin American and African American. These results could be a reflection of different cultural norms between the races, a population density-effect or a combination of these.
Signed �?life experiences�?, testimonies and stories
My own experience with assertiveness falls under the bully category. In middle school I was a very quiet kid with few friends. Well, technically, I had many friends but none that I would call very close. I had nobody to count on when I need them. Because of this, I was frequently the target of bullies. I never experienced physical bullying, but verbal abuse and social ostracizing were the weapons of choice used with me. I never wanted to go to school, for fear I would be laughed at. I don’t know when it happened, but I gradually opened up to my friends, finding new confidence and having the conviction to show the bullies that I was secure with myself. To this day, I think that I got picked on so much because I was both an easy target, without defenses and that I was one of the better students in all of my classes, so I was also easy to force into helping other students with their work. My friends support lasted me through high school but I still was not fully confident in myself, I was still very much an easy target, only I had rings of defense now. When I hit college, however, and chose my path in life, I found a new source of inspiration and security. Knowing what I wanted to do with my life allowed me to fit the rest of the puzzle pieces of my life together. Now I feel strong, confident and aware of myself. I know I have shortcomings, but my awareness of them allows me to work with them and work with them. (Matt Munley)
For years I have struggled with being assertive. I would rather eat glass than tell someone that he or she is doing something "wrong." For this reason, I had some difficulties in the classroom as a first and second-year teacher. Students were not afraid to "take me on" and this really hurt my reputation as a teacher in the eyes of the administration because it appeared that my classes were not "under control." It is important for teachers to have the right amount of assertiveness or the students will not respect you.
- Mindy Waters
Assertiveness, in my experience, goes hand-in-hand with self esteem and self confidence. Having struggled (don't we all?) with insecurities in middle and high school, it wasn't until college and post-college times that I developed enough confidence in myself and my decision-making process to act with assertiveness. The pivotal shift towards assertiveness was when I finally cared enough about what I believed in--and really believed it--to withstand peer pressure and speak with assertiveness. This has benefitted my ability to teach middle school students greatly!
Assertive students are generally more successful with receiving assistance in the classroom than less assertive students. I think it is important for students to realize that being assertive is often an appropriate behavior, and that there are times when it is considered rude or inappropriate to be assertive. It is an educators challenge to encourage their more assertive students to hone their assertive skills, and to encourage less assertive students to practice being assertive in appropriate circumstances. It is also the educators responsibility to ensure that their less assertive students are receiving the attention that they need and deserve. – Jeremiah Johnson
Assertiveness is very important for all teachrs to have. If a teacher comes into the classroom and does not posses this trait then they are going to fail. I have seen numerous student teachers not have assertiveness and they have came close to failing the first week of student teaching. It then takes them days to get back in control in the classroom. Many students can tell excatly if the teacher is assertive or not. Nic D.
References and other links of interest
Assertiveness, Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assertiveness
Scrimgeour, Ron. Spring 1993. Gender Bias in the Classroom? Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.scre.ac.uk/rie/nl52/nl52scrimgeour.html
Showing Them Who’s Boss. Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.teachers.tv/bayleysComments.do?strandId=1&page=0
Firth, Nola. The Effect of an Assertiveness Programme on Locus of Control of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties: A Qualitative Case Study of a Small Group of Young Adolescents. Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/student/insight/postscriptfiles/vol2/vol2_1_firth.pdf
Victims: Preventing Students From Becoming “Bully-Targets�? Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.interventioncentral.org/htmdocs/interventions/bully/victim.shtml
A good guide to general assertiveness: Bower, Sharon. Bower, Gordon. 1991. Asserting Yourself: A Practical Guide for Positive Change Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=27165931
Teacher resource for classroom intervention http://www.interventioncentral.org/index.shtml#ideas
UIUC Counseling Center, ASSERTIVENESS, Retrieved July 30, 2005, from http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/Brochures/assertiv.htm
Sigler, K. A. "A Regional Analysis of Assertiveness" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Sheraton New York, New York City, NY Online <PDF>. 2009-02-05 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p14806_index.html
