improvement. In addition, behavior modification may be the most useful ap-
proach when working with certain populations, such as children or severely
emotionally disturbed patients. These individuals might have a difficult time
discussing abstract psychoanalytic concepts or dealing with some of the exis-
tential questions posed by humanistic therapists. Behavior modification is also
relatively quick and easy to administer. Treatment often lasts a matter of
weeks, compared with months or years with other approaches. The basic20. When I have done something important or worthwhile, I
manage to let others know about it.
21. I am open and frank about my feelings.
22. If someone has been spreading false and bad stories about me,
I see him or her as soon as possible to “have a talk ”about it.
23. I often have a hard time saying “No.” *
24. I tend to bottle up my emotions rather than make a scene.*
25. I complain about poor service in a restaurant and elsewhere.
26. When I am given a compliment, I sometimes just don ’t know
what to say.*
27. If a couple near me in a theater or at a lecture were convers-
ing rather loudly, I would ask them to be quiet or take their
conversation elsewhere.
28. Anyone attempting to push ahead of me in a line is in for a
good battle.
29. I am quick to express an opinion.
30. There are times when I just can ’t say anything.*
Many people have difficulty asserting their rights. In behavioral terms,
these people need to increase the frequency of their assertive behaviors in
appropriate situations. A behavior modification treatment called assertive-
ness training allows participants to watch models asserting themselves ap-
propriately, role-play their own assertive responses, and receive immediate
reinforcement for appropriate assertive actions. To obtain your assertive-
ness score, first reverse the sign for your answer on each of the items with
an asterisk (that is, a plus becomes a minus, and vice versa). Then add all30 answer values together. A positive score indicates high assertiveness; a
negative score reflects low assertiveness. The average score is around 8 for
college women and 10 for college men (Nevid & Spencer, 1978). Two-thirds of all college females score between 31 and –17, and two-thirds of
college males have scores that fall between 33 and –11.
Scale: Rathus Assertiveness Inventory
Source: Behavior Therapy by Rathus, S. A. Copyright 1973 by Elsevier Science & Technology
Journals . Reproduced with permission of Elsevier Science & Technology Journals in the format
Textbook via Copyright Clearance Center.370 CHAPTER 13 The Behavioral/Social Learning Approach