Psychology 101: Communication Styles and Assertiveness Assignment

This psychology assignment explores various aspects of communication styles and their impact on individuals and society. The assignment analyzes the use of "I" statements, differentiating between assertive, passive, and aggressive behaviors. It examines scenarios where each style is most effective and discusses potential challenges, such as low self-esteem and societal biases, that can influence assertiveness. Furthermore, the assignment delves into the concept of violence, addressing its different forms and the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community. The student provides insights into the importance of recognizing and understanding violence in various contexts, including schools and workplaces. The assignment also touches upon the role of societal attitudes and power dynamics in perpetuating violence and discrimination.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
Name of Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1PSYCHOLOGY
1. Yes, some people are hesitant to use “I” statements because of the complicated
connotation to it. Sometimes it becomes a little conflicting to use these kind of
statements because they can seem to reflect what’s best for the speaker, personally
and it may seem like the individual is not taking other’s wishes or concerns into
consideration.
2. Using “I” statements have the capability of becoming problematic when used to refer
to something that is in relation to someone else. For example, “I’m really angry about
this missed deadline,” could be easily translated into “You employees are of no use,
and cannot maintain deadlines”.
3. I believe that it is usually best to act actively because then spoken sentences will be
clear and concise and the other person will be able to figure out the main aim of what
I am saying. Speaking in a passive manner may construed the meaning of the sentence
and does not guarantee that the listener will understand the meaning at once.
4. It is best to act passively when you are not comfortable with putting the full blame on
someone, and want to be vague about who is responsible. It is best to act passively
when you want to put more emphasis on the entire project rather than on you.
5. Acting assertive is necessary when you’re in a situation that requires you to hold some
ground and delegate objectives that require attention immediately. Acting in an
assertive manner will also help an individual keep everyone that they are
communicating with in check.
6. Assertive behaviour expresses firm opinions and the speakers are able to honour
themselves by showing that they are able to stand up for what they believe in,
however aggressive behaviour is displayed by people who only want to make sure
that they win and in this way they do not consider hurting other people as that is an
assumed bi-product.

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7. Yes, people definitely face more challenges when trying to assertive in most
situations and the most common reasons behind it is low self-esteem and low self-
confidence. I believe that assertiveness can sometimes come as a shock to most of the
listeners because they would not be expecting it and might not take in a positive way
and end up not listening to what is being said. They may feel like it is targeting them,
when it is actually there to help them.
8. Usually when a woman is being aggressive, it is seen as her being bossy and letting
her hormonal mood swings affect her decision making process. However, it is
commonly accepted for a man to be aggressive and not have him be called bossy, but
he is called determined and a dedicated worker. This is because the difference in
human psychology affected by women’s oppression in society which causes everyone
to look more for the negative connotations to a woman taking her stand on a matter.
9. I definitely agree with this statement as it is the victim who will be in the best position
to detect if there is being some harm done to their wellbeing and sense of security in
an environment. Other types of physical violence have visible injuries on the victim
that can be seen and examined, so the victim and everyone around them would be in
the best position to judge the harmfulness.
10. In school, there are children who are usually bigger in size than the rest who end up
being the bullies, they mentally and physically abuse weaker students to ensure that
they don’t lose their place of power. At work, there are bosses that put mental
pressure on their employees by treating them as if they are incompetent and
constantly questioning their abilities.
11. It is definitely important to have an idea of what violence means, and also making
sure that different forms of violence is also known. Even if someone does not harm

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me physically but has made me feel threatened, then it is important to know that this
is also a type of violence and my wellbeing is being harmed.
12. The increase in violence against the LGBTQ community roots from the institutional
unacceptance in all places in the society engrained in the minds of the citizens by
bigoted governments. With people thinking that these people are not normal, they will
be instigated to take matters into their own hands to eliminate people from the
community as a way of them doing apparent justice to the society.