Passive, Aggressive, Assertive SESSION 1 Aggressive Behavior
Goal
Aggressive behavior is mean or angry behavior. Aggressive
people reach their goals and enhance their self~worth by hu~
ing others. Whereas passive people allow others to infringe
upon their rights, aggressive people often make choices for
others and infringe upon the rights of others. Aggressive people
push others around.
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To discriminate assertive responses from passive and aggres~
sive responses.
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Assertive Behavior
PR
Assertive behavior is asking for what you want and declin~
ing what you don't want in a polite, calm way. Assertive people
strive to reach their goals without hurting others. Assertive
people express their feelings and thoughts, make choices for
themselves, and feel good about themselves. Assertive people
speak up for themselves without trying to hurt others.
You often hear people say it's important to be aggressive
and go after what you want. Those people really mean you
should be assertive and get what you want without hurting
others. People often confuse the terms aggressive and assertive,
but there really are important differences which you willieam.
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Participants will be able to distinguish passive, aggressive,
and assertive responses when presented orally or in role
plays.
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Objective
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Ask participants to take notes as you describe these con~
cepts. Draw the following three pictures on the blackboard
and explain the basic differences between passive, aggres~
sive, and assertive responses.
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Procedures
Passive Behavior
Passive behavior is often called shy or quiet. However, passive
people are really those who deny themselves the right to make
choices for themselves, fail to express their feelings and
thoughts, or fail to obtain the benefits of a particular situation.
Passive people seldom reach their desired goals and often feel
hurt or anxious as a result of their inadequate behavior. In
short, passive people allow others to infringe upon their rights.
Passive people do not stick up for themselves.
Activities
1. Have participants take out Worksheet lA and instruct
participants to complete it. After everyone has completed
the worksheet, go over the answers and correct any errors.
2. Divide the participants into small groups and assign the
first situation on Worksheet 1B to all groups. Then have
the groups collectively answer number one and explain
their reasons. Have all participants complete Worksheet lB
after it is clear to everyone what is required. After every­
one has completed Worksheet lB, go over the answers
and correct any errors. Ask participants to offer examples
of how the person in each situation could have behaved
differently, and what the likely outcome would have been.
3. Have volunteers role-play or act out a few of the situa­
tions. Remember to enthusiastically reinforce those who
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