The Programme for Education in PrisonThe Programme for Education in Prisonss

Developing Training Programmes for Qualified Teachers to Teach in Prisons

113991-CP-1-2004-1-MT-GRUNDTVIG-G11

ASSERTIVENESS ASSERTIVENESS

Assertivity is well-balanced self-enforcement

To manage such behaviour human must have well-balanced and adequate self-confidence

 

Self-confidence is evaluation of own capabilities, skills and competence.

When it is suitable act assertively            when someone wants to manipulate us into a situation or role we do not agree with            when our demands are competent           when we want to find solution advantageous for both sides            when we definitely know what we want and do not want

Positives of ASSERTIVENESS         

develops well-balanced self-confidence            supports self-respect           supports decisiveness          improves inter-personal relations

prevents conflicts

is not manipulative

Negatives of ASSERTIVENESS         

can look like arrogance            can harm self-confidence of other persons            can look like manipulation             can be understood like manifestation of disrespect            is not suitable in every situation

Assertively acting human           knows to say what he/she thinks of, wishes, how to realize the best solution of a problem            knows both to speak and listen            respects partner as intelligent human being that can have good ideas, maybe better him-/herself            has positive attitude to compromise and to change of own opinion 

Assertively acting human

respects both him-/herself and the others and therefore does not allow to be manipulated

knows to speak still, without tension of feeling of guilt          is relaxed and knows how to create peaceful and friendly environment          is not narrow-minded           for him/her success means success and failure means failure 

Presumption of theory of ASSERTIVENESS :

 Human has three basic possibilities how to manage problem situations:

 

to act passively

to act aggressively

to act assertively 

Assertive rights   

You have the right to judge your own behaviour, ideas and emotions and to responsible for their consequences.

You have the right not to excuse your behaviour.

You have the right to decide whether and to what extent you are responsible for solving problems of the other people.  You have the right to change your mind.

You have the right to fail and to be responsible for this.

 

Assertive rights  

 

You have the right to say: „I do not know„.

You have the right to make also illogical decision.

You have the right to be independent on good will of the others.

You have the right to say „I do not understand you".

 You have the right to say „I do not care".

You have the right to decide whether will be assertive or not.

 

 

Techniques of ASSERTIVENESS  

response through feedback

assertive NO

„broken desk" demand for kindness

consent /„open door"/

negative questioning

negative assertivity

assertive obligation

Signs of nonverbal communication

PASSIVITY - voice

sometimes uncertain

usually monotonous

yielding

often boring

sometimes melodious

Signs of nonverbal communication

AGGRESSIVITY – voice

very firm, sarcastic,

victorious tone, calm, strict,

vigorous laconic

ascending at the endoften shriek

Signs of nonverbal communication

ASSERTIVENESS - voice

still and settled

middle tone

kind, friendly

middle intensity

clear

 Signs of nonverbal communication

PASSIVITY – way of speaking

hesitating, frequent pauses frequent changes of rhythm slightly coughing

occasional stutter

Signs of nonverbal communication

AGGRESSIVENESS – way of speaking

fluent

sometimes pause

quick tempo

sometimes laconic

very often stringent

excessive stress on certain words

Signs of nonverbal communication

ASSERTIVENESS – way of speaking

fluent

still

no hesitation

regular tempo

stress on key words

Signs of nonverbal communication

PASSIVITY – face

stiff smile

frequent changes

lifted eyebrow

waiting for rebuke

Signs of nonverbal communication

AGGRESSIVENESS – face

sour smile

often gloomy

face-play

teeth set

Signs of nonverbal communication

ASSERTIVENESS – face

corresponds with emotions

smile while delighted

frown while displeased

generally still

Signs of nonverbal communication

PASSIVITY – eye view

evasive

not face to face

Signs of nonverbal communication

AGGRESSIVENESS – eye view

fixed

effort to perplex

Signs of nonverbal communication

ASSERTIVENESS – eye view

still

consistent

Signs of nonverbal communication

PASSIVITY – gestures

huddled

recedes

frequent auto-touches

hides mouth

nervous movements (scuffs, clamp, twisting, etc.)

Signs of nonverbal communication

AGGRESSIVENESS – gestures

pointing

tapping on table

forward bend

noisy

Signs of nonverbal communication

ASSERTIVENESS – gestures

free

relaxed sitting

head upright

corresponding with emotions

Verbal signs of behaviour

AGGRESSIVENESS

• prevailing statements like „I“, „my“

• opinion proposed as facts

• threatening questions

• demands in form of directions and threats

• frequent argumentation through suppositions

• sarcasm and irony

• accusations

Verbal signs of behaviour

PASSIVITY

• long, discontinuous, often egocentric statements

• supplemental words „perhaps“

• Excuses

• begging for permission to speak

• very few sentences singular (starting with „I“ or „we“)

• sentences minimizing own needs

• „degrades“ him-/herself through statements like „I am terrible“

Verbal signs of behaviour

ASSERTIVENESS

• brief, clear, factual statements

• statements in singular like „I would like“

• differentiation of opinions and facts

• proposals are not suggestions

• no statements like: „you should“

• constructive criticism without accusations and suppositions

• effort to discover opinion and wishes of the other party

Web links

  http://tbsd-eq.wz.cz/asertivita/index.php; www.asertivita.czhttp://holy.cz/kontext/asertivita.htmhttp://holy.cz/kontext/asertivita.htmhttp://cs.wikibooks.org/wiki/Asertivitahttp://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asertivitahttp://www.ivvs.cz/index.php?head=straz&page=specialkurzy

English web pages:

http://www.mentalhelp.net/http://www.couns.uiuc.edu/Brochures/assertiv.htm  

 

LiteratureLiterature Recommended literature: Capponi,V.;Novák,T.: Asertivně do života. Praha: Grada

Publishing, 1994 O´Brienová,P.: Pozitivní řízení. Asertivita pro managery. Praha,

Management Press, 1996 Křivohlavý,J.: Tajemství úspěšného jednání. Praha, Grada

publishing, 1995 Berne, E.: Jak si lidí hrají. Praha, Svoboda 1970

Capponi, V., Novák. T.: Jak se prosadit - asertivně do života. Praha, Svoboda 1992Gruber, D.: Zlatá kniha komunikace. Ostrava, Repronis 2005Hermochová, S.: Sociálně psychologický výcvik, Praha, SPN 1995Honzák, R., Novotná, V.: Jak se dobře cítit mezi lidmi. Praha, Grada 1999Kolman, L., Špalíková, M.: Vést a být veden. Praha, TES 1985Křivohlavý, J.: Jak si navzájem lépe porozumíme. Praha, Svoboda 1988Mezihorský, Š.: Asertivita. Brno, Elfa 1991Vojáček, K.: Autogenní trénink. Praha, Avicenum 1988

LiteratureLiteratureLiterature in Slovak language:Honzák, R., Novotná, V.: Jako sa dobře cítiť medzi luďmi. Bratislava, SPN 1988Svobodová, M.: K niektorým otázkam tréninku asertivity. In: Metody aktivního sociálního učení. Brno 1985

Literature in English language:Cavood, D.: Assertiveness for Managers. Learning Effective for Managing People. Seattle, Self Counsel Press, Inc. 1983Cotller, S. B., Guerra, J. J.: Assertion Training, Champsing, III. Research Press 1980. New York, Pergamon Press 1987Fensterheim, H., Bear, J.: Don’t say yes, when you want to say no. London, A Future Bock 1976

Model situation

Through personal experience can be tested:  how complicated can be communicate effectively in certain situation,

how to endure waiting (breaks in work),

to what extent we are able to manage aggressiveness (self-control),

to what extent we are able to respond surprise (creativity),

to what extent we are able to apply assertive approach while solving a problem

Model situation

Meaning of the training  To realize that there are situations unsolvable neither through passive nor aggressive acting.

Assertive behaviour provides wider space to manoeuvre and to apply effective communication.

Try to express your opinion whether assertivity is suitable when role teacher-pupil (prisoner) is strictly

specified.

Try to describe whether you felt anger and aggressiveness. How did you evaluate teacher as format authority during assumed inadequate conflict behaviour? 

Discussion

It is possible to watch manifestations of participant from the point of view of both verbal and nonverbal communicationDemonstration of passivity, aggressiveness, ASSERTIVENESS  

During projection participants and observers can compare feelings and experience with recorded reality

 

Video recording

Summary

Goal of this educational module: 

To provide knowledge, skills and habits while applying assertive approach at work group of prisoners