ARS – R2 (Assertiveness Rating Scale – 2nd Revision)

Description

Studies carried out with adolescents reveal that the most feared interpersonal situations are those that require assertive behavior.

Assertiveness is the ability to express opinions, thoughts, and wishes in a clear, direct way, even if there’s the potential for rejection or disagreement. So what makes one person assertive and another cower in the corner at the mere thought of voicing their opinion? Like most personality traits, there is no easy answer – assertiveness is affected by a wide variety of factors and can even change throughout one’s life. The way a person’s parents and other role models taught him/her to stand up for himself/herself, the reactions received when he/she did, along with various biological factors and personality traits, all play a role. Regardless of the cause however, there is no doubt that assertiveness is a quality that can be taught and developed. Passive participants on life’s stage can learn to go after what they want.

There is a delicate balance between constructive and aggressive assertiveness. While it’s healthy and necessary to stand up for oneself, there is always the danger of coming across as hostile, demanding, or even manipulative. Unassertiveness can result in being a pushover but over-assertiveness may drive others away. The Assertiveness Test is a useful tool for evaluating the situations in which John is most comfortable asserting himself. Look into his scores in Ability to speak for self, Handling assertive/strong people, Comfort with vulnerability, and Subservience to see where his strengths and limitations are.

Purpose: ARS – R2 assesses whether a person is able to communicate his or her thoughts and opinions in a clear, direct, and non-aggressive way.

Vitals
No. of questions: 35
Question type: Self-report
Estimated completion time: 10 minutes
Shorter versions of assessment: N/A
Recommended age level: 18+
Qualification Level: Class A
Compliance: APA standards; EEOC standards (gender, age, disability)
Validation Information:
● Sample Size: 6717
● Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.91

Features
Benchmarks: Available (general population, 62 industries)
Interview Questions: Available
Group Comparisons: Available

Report Includes:
● Summary
● Introduction
● Graphs
● Detailed narrative interpretation
● Strengths and Limitations
● Advice

Factors and Scales:
Overall Score plus 5 scales:
● Ability to speak for self: Acting with confidence to voice a personal opinion.
● Handling assertive/strong people: Ability to stand up to those who might be intimidating.
● Comfort with Vulnerability: Ability to take action despite the risk of rejection or embarrassment.
● Subservience: Allowing the needs of others to take precedence over personal desires.
● Aggression: Using aggressive tactics, such as intimidation, physical force or manipulation to
get one’s way.