COSERE | 71 2.3. Assertive communication. As we discussed in the previous subtopic, intention and meaning play a fundamental role in effective communication. This can be leveraged to some extent by applying specific techniques to generate a particular impression of one’s words, but much of the “reading between the lines” that occurs in communication happens on the part of the listener - for better or for worse! In this subtopic we will focus on a healthy communication style that has been cultivated with the express purpose of cutting through these miscommunications, making one’s intentions clear and defined without escalating any tensions or being perceived as aggressive. This style of communication, dubbed assertiveness, is distinct from the two other primary communication styles: passive communication and aggressive communication. Of course, no theory is ever as black-and-white as this, and you have probably already heard of a hybridised style that combines elements of passive communication and aggressive communication - the aptly named “passive-aggressive” communication type. That being said, as the primary focus of this subtopic is assertiveness, we will devote most of our attention to this, supplementing the discussion with the factors that distinguish it from its two main alternatives.
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