Shaping Components of Assertive Behavior with Instructions and Feedback

The authors describe the use of instructions and immediate feedback in sequentially shaping target assertive behaviors. Deficiencies in assertive behavior were assessed in two subjects by means ofratings of videotaped interactions. Training involved rehearsals of standard assertive situations unrelated to the subjects’ real-life problems. There was relatively rapid acquisition of component assertive behaviors during training. These improvements also generalized to untreated rehearsals of the su~jects’ real-life problems. The clinical implications of the training procedures are discussed.