Identifying Your Behaviour• You are watching your favorite TV show. Your

sister walks in and changes the channel. Which of these reactions best fits you?:

1. You get up, leave the room and slam the door.

Passive

2. You say, " I want to see the program I was watching. Please change the channel back."

Assertive

3. You yell, "What are you, stupid? Can't you see I'm watching my show?“

Aggressive

Reactions– When reacting to feelings, people can choose

to be passive, assertive or aggressive.– A passive reaction may be doing something y

ou don't want to do or making an excuse, rather than expressing your feelings.

– An aggressive reaction involves blaming and criticizing. It may include threatening or intimidating others.

– An assertive reaction allows you to stand up for yourself without criticizing or blaming others.

How Assertive Are You? Read the following statements and mentally

assign either a YES if you are like that or NO if you are not.

• 1. I am careful to avoid hurting other people's feelings, even when I feel that my rights have been overlooked.

• 2. I avoid asking questions because I'm afraid I may sound stupid.

• 3. People often take advantage of me. • 4. I have a hard time saying no even when

I don't want to do something.

• 5. There are times when I look for a good argument.

• 6. Anyone who tells stories about me can expect to find trouble.

• 7. When I get angry, I sometimes lose control. • 8. I enjoy winning a good confrontation. • 9. I enjoy talking with people I don't know very w

ell. • 10. I am open and frank about my feelings. • 11. If someone were talking during a movie, I wo

uld ask them to be quiet. • 12. When someone pays me a compliment, I ca

n easily accept it and say "thank you."

Scoring • So, where do you stand in terms of your behaviour?• The first four statements relate to a passive reaction styl

e. The more Yes answers you have to questions 1-4, the more passive you may be.

• Statements 5-8 indicate an aggressive style. The more Yes answers you have to these questions, the more aggressive you may be.

• The last four statements are characteristic of an assertive reaction style. If you answer Yes to these questions, you are likely to be assertive.

• No one is assertive at all times, so it is common to have some Yes answers in all styles. Look for an overall pattern to see whether your style seems to be more passive, assertive or aggressive.

Different reaction styles

• Reactions may be passive, assertive or aggressive.

• Verbal and nonverbal messages accompany each reaction. Nonverbal messages are those we normally unconsciously give through our body language.

• Assertive communication enhances self-esteem and relationships.

Recognizing Reactions • In your groups, discuss and label what kind of

reaction you think each of the situations show.• The differences between assertive, aggressive

and passive reactions are fairly easy to distinguish through the verbal communications people use.

• However, nonverbal communication is also very important and we need to be aware of these cues we and others unconsciously send out. Being aware of one’s own body language can be an effective tool in improving your own communication skills, confidence and how other perceive you.

Advantages of being Assertive– Assertive reactions express feelings while

respecting the feelings of others.– Assertive reactions involve verbal and

nonverbal messages.– Assertive reactions require thought.– Assertive reactions promote positive mental

health and healthy relationships.

Watch the following video about body language: http://www.howcast.com/videos/10608-How-To-Interpret-Body-Language

HEALTH PROJECT• Each student will be required to make a P

OWER POINT presentation on one of the aspects/topics covered in class. It needs to be specific, not a general rehash of what you have covered. For example, you may choose one of these options or one of your own: Physiological effects of stress on the body, Body Language, How a healthy lifestyle can lead to a healthy mental state, or Society’s influence on moral standards and what we now deem acceptable.

• Your power point should be no shorter than 5 slides and no longer than 10.

• Your power point should be brief with only relevant information on the topic you are discussing. Relevant pictures that add to the presentation should be used. The background should be simple and should not be the focus of the power point or take away from the information you are trying to present.

• You will need to prepare all your information, pictures, ideas and other resources before the next Health class (which is in one week’s time). You will then create your power point during the next class. No finished power points may be brought to the next class (you will be deducted marks if you do). You may set up your background and slide design beforehand, but all writing and pictures and so on will be added to your power point during the class time next week. You should bring the information, prepared power point, and so on, on a device that will easily allow you to access the information, or set it up on an easily accessible website or blog. Or email it to yourself.

• Be sure to reference any material, or information you take directly from a resource.

• All the information covered in class can be viewed on the PE blog.• There will be no extensions: if you come prepared, you will easily fin

ish in the class time!