Assertive: what it means and the correct spelling

George Alvarez 18-10-2023
George Alvarez

After all, you know what it is to be assertive For, much is said about assertive people, how it adds to a resume or is good for our relationships. However, assertiveness is often confused with arrogance. Also, many people confuse it with the idea of being right or being correct.

But being an assertive person means nothing of the sort! In fact, it means getting straight to the point, without beating around the bush. And this is something good and constructive for dealing with other people, whether in a professional environment or in personal relationships. So, follow our text and understand more about what it is to be an assertive person!

Table of Contents

  • Which is the correct way: assertive or acertive?
  • What is assertive?
  • Characteristics of the assertive person
  • Advantages of being an assertive person
  • What about professional assertiveness?
  • So, what is being assertive in Psychology?
    • But beware!
  • Assertive versus sincere
  • Assertive versus optimistic
  • Final considerations about assertive
    • Come learn more!

Which is the correct way: assertive or acertive?

In this sense, assertive is an adjective and characterizes what is positive or right, such as behaviors or actions. Therefore, it is correct to use the word with two "ss", and not to write it with "c". In other words, in grammar, "acertivo" does not exist.

For, confusion is made because many people believe that the word "assertive" derives from the word "right". .

What is assertive?

The meaning of assertive is that you get to the point. Being direct doesn't mean that you have to say everything that comes to mind, because being assertive means not to be coy and to expose what you are thinking without offending anyone.

In this way, assertive communication is direct, without noise or gaps . This means that the information is conveyed without winding up and without delay, which is why this has been a very sought-after characteristic in professionals.

Characteristics of the assertive person

In this sense, being assertive ends up being synonymous with being trustworthy and understandable. The assertive person, as we have already mentioned, is a person who gets to the point. Therefore, he is usually a confident person who can express himself with ease.

Therefore, assertive people have great argumentative power. In addition, they have the gift of being direct without being harsh or inconvenient, so they are secure in their behavior and opinions. They are also people with more positive behaviors.

Above all, a person with sharp assertiveness is a person who knows how to communicate. As such, she masters both oral and written communication.

Advantages of being an assertive person

In this way, having an assertive behavior is full of advantages. Therefore, we list some of them below:

  • honest opinions;
  • anxiety control;
  • The famous "wrapping" is avoided when delivering a message;
  • greater ability to communicate;
  • intuitive development;
  • greater security;
  • improvement in self-confidence and self-esteem;
  • less hesitation when making decisions;
  • more objectivity.

Therefore, the biggest advantage of being an assertive person is having control of one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Moreover, he is a person without problems with emotional and psychological issues. In other words, he is a person whose mental health is balanced.

What about professional assertiveness?

Thus, being assertive is a competence that is increasingly in demand in job interviews. So professional assertiveness means the way you defend your opinions and points of view That is, how direct you are in your positions.

This is important because it shows that the assertive professional doesn't beat around the bush. He gets to the point. In a very competitive world, this is an important differential for promotions, as well as for getting a job position.

Thus, assertiveness is linked to productivity and the delivery of results. And these are some of the characteristics most sought after by companies in professionals. Moreover, it is a very important competence for leadership positions, because it conveys, above all, confidence.

So, what is being assertive in Psychology?

Assertiveness, in psychology, is not about breaking down barriers, being more communicative or more uninhibited. In fact, it is how you see yourself and how you face what happens in your life. Thus, it is characterized by more practical actions and reactions.

Thus, it is part of the four major behavioral groups analyzed by psychologists, that is, the aggressive, the passive-aggressive, and the assertive.

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Read Also: Being focused in life: how to do it in practice?

But beware!

Being assertive is very good, and even has many more good points than bad points. However, you have to be careful. This is because assertiveness can not only be mistaken for arrogance, it can turn into hubris.

Since the assertive person is direct and speaks bluntly, this can be interpreted in the wrong way. Therefore, if you are not tactful when stating your opinion, you can be interpreted as arrogant.

Furthermore, without constant self-evaluation, it is possible to develop arrogant behavior.

Assertive versus sincere

Besides being careful not to confuse assertiveness with arrogance, it is also necessary not to confuse assertiveness with sincerity, because sincerity is the expression of what we consider to be right from our point of view.

See_also: What a Wonderful Woman: 20 phrases and messages

While assertiveness is the direct transmission of information. Furthermore, assertiveness is related to the ability to control emotions. Sincerity, on the other hand, has an emotional connotation depending on the message we want to convey. And this happens in particular when we express how we feel.

Assertive versus optimistic

Another point to note is that a person with assertive characteristics is not the same as an optimistic person. For, a person with developed assertiveness has more positive behaviors and attitudes.

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The optimist, on the other hand, is someone who sees everything in a positive light. However, this does not mean that he is an assertive person, on the contrary. It can be a person without the ability of direct communication, this being the main characteristic of assertiveness.

Therefore, too much optimism can serve as a mask for problems, so it may not be such a healthy attitude. Therefore, it is very good to be optimistic, but in moderation!

Final considerations about assertive

It is becoming more and more essential to improve our ability to communicate. However, whether the communication is written or spoken, we need to know how to express ourselves. So this is a competence that can be developed.

So it will be good not only for your personal life, but also for your professional life, because the world requires us to be up to date all the time.

Therefore, we must always innovate the way we relate in all areas of life. However, it is never too late to learn something new. Or even to develop yourself aiming at well-being and quality of life. So, have you ever thought about working on being assertive?

Come learn more!

If you like this subject and want to know how to be assertive You will learn different theories about the human mind, so you will develop your full potential. So come transform your life and your career, so enroll now!

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.