ASSERTION AND AGGRESSION IN ADULT OFFENDERS

Assertive and aggressive behavior were assessed by role-playing and self-report techniques in groups of convicted offenders and demographically similar participants in a publicly supported vocational retraining program. Results revealed significantly higher aggression among offenders on role-playing measures. Although there was no significant univariate difference in assertiveness ratings, this result was complicated by significant and varying relationships between assertion and aggression in the two groups. With this relationship controlled, there was a higher level of rated assertion among nonoffenders. The findings suggest the advisability of including an emphasis on aggression reduction in assertiveness training programs for offenders and the importance of including measures of aggression in outcome studies of assertiveness training. © 1979 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.