Research Looking at information from academic articles, assertiveness is the solution found to improve interpersonal communications. Assertiveness is a quality that has not always been positively associated with myself. I personally think it is due to my environment in which I grew up. To counteract previous obstacles to my assertive behavior, I found articles that explain how to be more assertive. Assertiveness There are many ways to describe what assertiveness is. One dimension of assertiveness is “the ability to express oneself without anxiety or aggression in different situations,” but it is also the “direct and appropriate communication of a person's needs, desires, and opinions without punishment or humiliation of others.” When considering assertiveness, it has positive and negative weights. The positive side is that it shows a value of independence, a rebellious attitude, directly expresses hostility and pushes limits. On the negative side, it shows submissiveness and that the person is overly controlling, conventional and seeking reassurance. Assertiveness can be used to “initiate and maintain socially supportive relationships and thus enjoy better emotional well-being.” Factors that influence assertiveness include "culture, self-esteem, psychological distress, depression, risky behaviors, and gender. (Sarkova, 2013, pp. 147-154)." Men have been shown to be more assertive than women throughout their lives. analyzed article, demonstrated that adolescence is the moment in which assertiveness asserts itself. Social situations are exposed at this time and when meeting new people, even complete strangers, new roles and social skills are developed without paternal supervision. Effective communication... in the middle of the paper... to state my point of view, my opinions and my thoughts. To combat the lack of assertiveness, the reasons why one is not assertive have been discovered. In my adolescence I found myself reduced to assertiveness by my peer group, and while I asserted myself in some ways, I ultimately felt I couldn't in others. To change this previous view, ways will be adopted to be assertive in problems that bother me. Instead of pleasing the other person, I will state my point of view so that others know and feel gratified in knowing that I am just as justified in having my opinion as they are. Works Cited Sarkova, M., Bacikova-Sleskova, M., Orosova, O., Geckova, AM, Katreniakova, Z., Klein, D., et al. (2013). Associations between assertiveness, psychological well-being, and self-esteem in adolescents. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 43(1), 147-154.