Aggression and Assertiveness

One of the biggest barriers to being assertive is the confusion between assertiveness and aggression.

Many people avoid being assertive because they fear being perceived as aggressive, and they believe that assertiveness involves imposing their will on others and damaging relationships.

However, although both styles are based on standing up for one's rights, their goals and consequences are radically different.

Aggression occurs when a person expresses their rights and needs without regard for others.

An aggressive person uses anger and demands to get what they want, and their only goal is to win at the expense of others.

Aggression can provide a sense of power and release of tension in the short term, but in the long term, it generates guilt, bitterness, and resentment in relationships, since people do not want to work with someone who is aggressive.

Assertiveness, on the other hand, is based on respect and open communication.

The goal of assertiveness is not to win, but to have one's own points of view heard and taken into account.

An assertive person expresses their feelings and opinions directly, honestly, and appropriately, without belittling others.

It is based on the concept that both parties, the speaker and the listener, have the same right to express themselves and to be respected.

In a conflict, assertiveness seeks to ensure that both parties win, not one loses.

Assertiveness does not imply imposing one's will, but rather expressing one's points of view in such a way that they are heard and considered.

If assertiveness is practiced with respect, conflicts can be resolved constructivel