We are pleased to announce that the journal Frontiers in Psychology has recently published our paper, “The Four Pathways of Assertiveness: A Multidimensional Framework for Enhancing Individual Well-Being.”
The paper advances the concept that assertiveness can provide even more benefit to personal well-being by expanding the definition, strategies, and tools associated with assertiveness. Assertiveness has traditionally been defined as directly expressing what we want and how we feel while being respectful of the right of others to do the same (social assertiveness). This form of assertiveness is rooted in behavioral psychology and has been widely adopted in clinical and educational settings. Numerous studies have found that this traditional form of assertiveness can reduce anxiety and foster self-determination.
Recent psychological literature, however, underscores the need for a broader multidimensional framework for assertiveness—one that encompasses not only the social domain, but also the behavioral, emotional, and mental domains. Our paper introduces such a model including its rationale—rooted in the “three waves” of cognitive-behavioral psychology—and providing specific strategies and tools for implementation. In addition, we outline practical directions for empirical testing, future research, and intervention development.