Final answer:
Assertive behavior predominantly involves standing up for personal rights while respecting the rights of others, done through respectful and effective communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assertive behavior involves standing up for your rights while respecting the rights of others. This approach is part of prosocial behavior and contrasts sharply with aggression, which is behavior intended to cause harm or pain. Assertiveness does not involve an air of superiority or the suppression of your views at the expense of others. It also does not mean avoiding unpleasant situations but rather facing them with respect and a desire to find mutually beneficial solutions.
Effective assertive communication includes choosing your words carefully, staying calm, listening to others, asking open-ended questions, and focusing on solving problems without assigning blame. In practicing assertiveness, one aims to express their needs and opinions clearly and respectfully, without infringing on the rights of others.