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The Assertiveness
Inventory provides a list of questions, which should be
useful in increasing your awareness of your own behaviour
in situations which call for assertiveness. The Inventory
is not a standardised psychological test. There are no
"right" answers. There is no formal scoring
procedure. The only "score" is your own
evaluation of how you measure up to what you would LIKE
to be able to do. Be honest with yourself. After you
complete the inventory you can use the results to help
plan your own program of growth, by keeping a log to
monitor your progress. (Sample log given at the end of
the inventory).
The following questions will be helpful in assessing your
assertiveness. Be honest in your responses. All you have
to do is draw a circle around the number that described
you best. For some questions the assertive end of the
scale is at 0, for others at 4.
Key : 0 means no or never; 1 means somewhat or sometimes;
2 means average, 3 means usually or a good deal; and 4
means practically always or entirely.
| 1.
|
When
a person is highly unfair, do you call it to
their attention? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 2. |
Do
you find it difficult to make decisions ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 3. |
Are
you openly critical of others ideas, opinions,
behaviour ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 4. |
Do
you speak out in protest when someone takes your
place in line ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 5. |
Do
you often avoid people or situations for fear of
embarrassment ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 6. |
Do
you usually behave confidence in your own
judgement ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 7. |
Do
you insist that your spouse or roommate take on a
fair share of household
chores ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 8. |
Are
you prone to "fly off the handle"? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 9. |
When
a salesman makes an effort, do you find it hard
to say "NO" even though
the merchandise is not really what you want ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 10 |
When
a latecomer is waited on before you are, do you
call attention to the
situation ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| .11. |
Are
you reluctant to speak up in a discussion or a
debate ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 12. |
If a
person has borrowed money (or a book, garment,
thing of value ) and is
overdue in returning it, do you mention it? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 13. |
Do
you continue to pursue an argument after the
other person has had enough? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 14. |
Do
you generally express what you feel ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 15. |
Are
you disturbed if someone watches you at work ? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 16. |
If
someone keeps kicking or bumping your chair, in a
movie or a lecture,
do you ask the person to stop? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
| 17. |
Do
you find it difficult to keep eye contact when
talking with another person? |
0
1 2 3 4 |
Attitude Assessment
: Write down how you feel about
right to behave assertively. Look at the various
situations and people noted in the situations described
in the Assertiveness Inventory. What we’re getting
at here is simply to determine how you feel about whether
it’s even okay, for example to respond to criticism.
Behaviour Assessment
: This refers to the
`Components’ of behaviour, which are the key to any
assertive act. If you monitor your own behaviour
carefully for a time (a week or more) and record your
observations regularly in your log, you will have a good
idea of your own effectiveness with eye contact, body
posture, and the others. It will probably help you if you
make it a point to watch some other people whom you
consider effectively assertive, and to note in your log
some of their behavioural qualities as well.
Obstacle Assessment
: We know that many people want
to act assertively. However, there are barriers which
seem to make assertion more difficult. Common obstacles :
anxiety (fear of the possible consequences) may be the
other person won’t like me, or will hit me, or will
think I am crazy, or may be I’II make a fool of
myself or may be I’II fail to get what I want; lack
of skills (I don’t know how to meet girls, what do I
do to express a political opinion? I never learned how to
show affection); other people in your life (parents,
friends, roommates and others have interest in making it
difficult for you to change, even if they believe they
want you to be more assertive). Record in your log those
obstacles which you feel are making assertiveness more
difficult for you.
After you have kept your log or journal for a week,
examine carefully the four entries : situations,
attitudes, behaviours, obstacles. Look for patterns.
Assess your particular strengths, and weaknesses. You
will find that the results will pinpoint quite
specifically what you will need to do to increase your
assertiveness.
A
SAMPLE PAGE OF YOUR LOG
| Assertiveness Log from
______________________ to ____________________ Situations :
Attitudes :
Behaviours :
Obstacles :
Progress / Problems / Comments
:
|
| Source : Alberti and
Emmons. op. cit., pp. 40-42. |
|
