Examined assertive behavior related to the perceptions of individuals of different race and gender. Students (N=144) viewed videotapes of Black and White females and evaluated their behavior on the Henry Assertive/Aggressive Rating Scale. Results confirmed traditional racial and sexual stereotypes. (JAC)

Assessed self-reported compliance, anger, and sympathy among subjects identified as dependent (N=26) or overcontrolled hostility (N=25), who read accounts of four different request styles. Dependent and overcontrolled subjects were not more compliant; however, females responded to the assertive request with more anger and less sympathy than did…

Validates the "College Self-Expression Scale." Shows that females are significantly more assertive, and that in one of the criterion situations each sex was significantly more assertive toward members of the same sex than members of the opposite sex. (RL)

Ninety undergraduate students, acting as jurors, viewed a videotape of a male or female aggressive, assertive, or passive defense attorney and a male prosecuting attorney in a simulated courtroom trial. The aggressive and assertive presentation styles resulted in significantly more "not guilty" verdicts than the passive style, for both the male…

Investigated assertiveness of college students (N=200) with different configuration of perceived child-rearing dimensions. Subjects completed Clarke Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire and Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Findings revealed that students whose perceived child rearing fell into high Father or Mother Identification categories had…

The base-rate fallacy states that the use of stereotypes is eroded when subjects are given minimal but diagnostic, individuating information about a target. To examine the effect of causal attributions and subject gender on the use of stereotypes in evaluations and predictions, 180 college students (90 males, 90 females) were presented with one of…

Examined the effects of assertiveness training on the self-expression skills of 65 Korean college students. Results showed the treatment group scored significantly higher on the College Self Expression Scale than placebo or control groups, and males scored significantly higher than females. (JAC)

Previous research findings were used in this study to develop and compare categories of the commonly used tactics and motives of sexually aggressive college women and men. In the collaborative work, 43% of the men and 26% of the women said they had perpetrated at least one act of sexual persistence. Based upon the reports of sexual targets,…

In U.S. society dominance appears extremely desirable. The purpose of this study was an attempt to measure the relationship between dominance, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Research questions were: "Do the people who score high on the Dominance scale of the California Psychological Inventory have higher self-esteem scores as measured by…

Investigated whether assertive and nonassertive individuals differ in defense mechanisms they most typically rely on when confronted with interpersonal stress and conflict. Results indicated assertive males and females both endorsed the most adaptive defense mechanism cluster, whereas nonassertive males and females endorsed more primitive defense…

Studied influence of sex roles on defense mechanisms. Females completed Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI) and Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Low masculinity on the BSRI was associated with high Turning Against Self on the DMI. High masculine subjects indicated greater willingness to attack objects of frustration. (Author)

Examined type of situation and sex of the counselor in assertive training. Female subjects were given training in making complaints, small talk, and saying no to unreasonable requests. Significant improvement occurred. Subjects seen by a male counselor changed significantly more than subjects seen by a female counselor. (Author)

Male (N=24) and female (N=24) college students at two southern universities role-played situations requiring them to either make or refuse a request. Results indicated that population differences exerted some influence on assertive behavior but sex differences did not. (RC)

Investigated relationship between assertiveness tendencies and safer sex behaviors in 253 heterosexual college students. Hypothesized that assertiveness would vary positively, and nonassertiveness negatively, with caution about engaging in sexual intimacy, inquiring about potential partner's sexually transmitted disease risk history, and frequency…

Earlier research investigating the relationship between physical attractiveness and assertiveness found that physically attractive females were more assertive than other females. To investigate this relationship further and to broaden the scope of the study, 69 students were videotaped in groups of five to ten while responding to open-ended…