Assertiveness is a method of communication that lets others know your ideas and feelings, while respecting their feelings as well.

A person behaving aggressively states her feelings directly, but she violates the rights of others. For example, suppose a neighbor asks you to baby-sit her four children and you don't want to. An aggressive response would be to say, "No, I won't baby-sit. You just drop the kids off and don't come back when you say you will and so I end up canceling my plans. And besides your kids are brats and don't know how to be quiet when my shows are on." While all of this may be true, your aggressive response may anger your neighbor or hurt her feelings.

Aggressive behavior often produces the desired outcome