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Assertion Training for Women

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Abstract

In the past several years there has been an increasing amount of both popular and professional attention to the area of assertive behavior. Popular books, articles, and newspaper articles on assertion have proliferated (e.g., Alberti & Emmons, 1978; Bower & Bower, 1976; M. D. Galassi & Galassi, 1977; Gambrill & Richey, 1976; Osborn & Harris, 1975) and reviews of the research literature have been prominent in the professional journals (e.g., Heimberg, Montgomery, Madsen, & Heimberg, 1977; Hersen, Eisler, & Miller, 1973a; Rathus, 1975; Rich & Schroeder, 1976). At least two factors have most likely contributed to this growing interest in assertion. First, the value of assertive behavior as a type of interpersonal interacting has increased. This increased value has undoubtedly been influenced by the growth of the various human rights groups, especially those directed at women’s rights. A key emphasis in the feminist movement has been on women asserting themselves by standing up for their rights and expressing their opinions and preferences in ways likely to be attended to by others. In the last several years, almost all national magazines directed toward women have published at least one article on assertion; assertion training groups are heavily attended by women;1 several popular assertion books have been written especially for women (e.g., Baer, 1976; Bloom, Coburn, & Pearlman, 1975; Butler, 1976; Phelps & Austin, 1975).

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Linehan, M.M., Egan, K.J. (1979). Assertion Training for Women. In: Bellack, A.S., Hersen, M. (eds) Research and Practice in Social Skills Training. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2192-5_7

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