Reactions to assertive versus nonassertive behavior. Females in commendatory and refusal situations.
Teaching clients to speak up with brief, friendly words raises likability and seen skill.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers filmed two young women. One spoke up clearly. One stayed quiet.
College students watched the clips and scored each woman on likability and skill.
The test covered two scenes: giving praise and saying no.
What they found
The assertive woman won higher likability and competence scores in both scenes.
Speaking up beat staying quiet, even when the woman refused a request.
How this fits with other research
White (1986) repeated the idea and added small talk. Refusals with friendly comments scored even higher, showing the 1984 finding still holds and can be boosted.
Zeiler (1969) used film models first. That study helped shy preschoolers talk more. Green et al. (1984) moved the same film method to adult assertiveness.
Critchfield et al. (2017) looked at word choice. Jargon hurt likability. Together the papers say: both what you say and how you say it shape social ratings.
Why it matters
Your clients can gain friends and respect by practicing assertive praise and refusal. Build short video models that show calm eye contact, clear words, and brief friendly lines. Let learners watch, rehearse, and self-rate before real chats. The payoff is warmer peer and staff reactions from day one.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Although researchers have recently begun to examine the social impact of assertive versus nonassertive behavior, assertiveness in positive situations (com-mendatory assertion) has largely been ignored in these studies. In the present study, subjects observed a videotape showing a female stimulus model acting either assertively or nonassertively in four different situations. Two of these situations involved the expression of positive emotions (commendatory assertion) and two involved the expression of negative feelings (refusal assertion). After viewing the videotape, subjects were asked to evaluate the model by completing an interpersonal attraction inventory. In addition, subjects completed the College Self-Expression Scale, a self-report assertiveness inventory. In contrast to prior findings, assertive models were viewed as more likable and more competent than nonassertive models. Subject assertiveness level did not affect the social impact of assertive behavior. Implications of the results for assertiveness training are discussed.
Behavior modification, 1984 · doi:10.1177/01454455840084008