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RANDY J. PATERSON The Assertiveness Workbook Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2000, 212 pages (ISBN 1-57224-2094, us$14.95, Softcover) Reviewed by NEIL RECTOR
The ability to express our needs, wants, and feelings directly and honestly and to see the needs of others as equally important is the sine qua non of satisfying and effective relationships. Yet, many people become trapped within communication patterns that prevent self-expression. No doubt, these difficulties with communication have a negative impact on the person's ability to enjoy relationships and accomplish life goals. Difficulties with assertiveness may even represent a core vulnerability for severe psychopathology and contribute to the maintenance of social and occupational impairment. In this way, a clinically validated approach to helping people become more assertive would be extremely valuable. The Assertiveness Workbook integrates principles and strategies developed in an assertiveness training program at the Vancouver Hospital and is aimed at providing step-by-step self-help instruction.
The book comprises 16 chapters in two sections: the first section is titled "Understanding Assertiveness" and includes defining and juxtaposing assertiveness with other less-adaptive styles of communication - the passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive styles. Paterson outlines the behaviours that characterize each of these styles, such as the avoidance of disagreement (passive), dismissing or ignoring the needs of others (aggressive), or the deliberate forgetting or delaying of a promised task (passive-aggressive). While we often think of assertiveness in terms of behaviours, Paterson presents a broader interpersonal model of assertiveness that highlights the dynamic interplay of beliefs, emotions,...