Individuals have different approaches towards self-expressions hence affecting their communication. Often, a person’s communication method is determined by both personal and environmental factors. These factors shape the individual’s attitude towards others as well as the way of understanding things around them. By making sense of their surroundings, people tend to develop the appropriate communication skills to cope as well as fit in with the environment. Therefore, it is correct to note that a person’s ability to correctly and appropriately express his or herself can be an essential thing as well as a skill that can be learned over time. The aim of this research paper is to focus n the three communication strategies of, differential, assertiveness, and aggressiveness. Moreover, the article will address the differences that exist between the various communication strategies.
Differential Communication
Unlike individuals who are used to avoiding showcasing their emotions, expressing their feelings, and opinion, individuals who apply differential communication often have two characters. They often pretend to be passive, yet they are angry. They often display attitudes of contentment while harboring dissatisfaction within themselves. Such individuals, therefore, pretend to be passive on their surface but it is a result of indirect actions of anger and resentment. Differential communication is applied by individuals who feel stuck, powerless and resentful.
The most common reason for such a communication strategy is the inability of the individual to deal with or incapability to react against the individuals whom they resent. For example, an employee will always respond positively to the actions of a supervisor to avoid being fired. Usually, such individuals have difficulty in accepting that they are angry, apply facial expressions which do not reflect their feelings, prefer sarcasm, appearing to be cooperative yet they purpose to disrupt or annoy others and also prefer to use sabotage to get revenge. The individuals who engage in this form of communication are often doing things that will harm others. They are poisonous two-faced people who pretend to be friends, yet they are looking for opportunities to stab others on their back. The approach can also be noted as an assertive-aggressive communication approach.
Aggressive Communication
Aggressive communication is an undesired communication approach which involves the use of verbal and physical abuse. Individuals who use this approach usually advocate only for their needs. Thus, they often express their opinions and feelings in ways that violate the rights of other individuals. These individuals as such would go an extra mile to meet their desires and needs even by violating the rights of others. Thus, people who prefer this communication approach often tend to be selfish, sarcastic, superior, critical, disrespectful, patronizing, harsh, and behave like they know everything. The method is characterized by individuals who often speak in a loud voice and a demanding tone (Serenity Online Therapy, 2018).
Aggressive communication, therefore, can be seen as a competition whereby one is always trying to be the winner. As such, people who apply this approach tend to have less satisfying and short-term relationships. Moreover, the content of the messages they may be passing to others can be misinterpreted or lost since individuals will be busy trying to react to how the message was relayed.
Assertive Communication
Assertive communication is an approach by an individual to relay information or express his or her point of view in a direct and clear way while also respecting the receivers of the information. Often, people who utilize this method of interaction prefer to minimize conflict, establish better and positive relationships with their family, friends, colleagues as well as other individuals they interact with on a regular basis. Moreover, assertive communication is utilized by individuals who are focused on controlling their anger since it involves consideration of the beliefs, thoughts, and feelings of others (Newton, 2011).
Similarly, the approach is applied so that an individual’s needs are better met. Thus, to be an assertive communicator, it requires a person to be able to stand up for his and other people’s rights positively and calmly. For assertive communication to be effective, individuals often use the “I” statement to take ownership of comments made. Moreover, the individuals know how to say no to things that they do not want to handle. Therefore, it is essential to note that assertive communication is the balance between differential and aggressive communication.
Difference between Assertive and Aggressive Communication
Several differences exist between these two forms of communication. Firstly, assertive communication involves expressing one’s own needs and opinions clearly but in a more respectful approach. However, aggressive communication ignores the recipients of the information typically. Thus, their feelings and needs are not considered by the person trying to pass the message. As a result, the individual’s opinions and needs are forcefully moved to others.
Assertive communication involves treating others with respect and can accommodate other individuals by compromising on one's needs. Since the method is accommodating, it tends to foster good relationships between individuals thus strengthening the existing bonds. On the other hand, aggressive communication disrespects the receivers of the information, and it is a more selfish approach. Therefore, the needs of the individual passing the message are the ones that matter and no compromise can be made. As a result, aggressive communication often results to break down and at times permanent damage in relationships between individuals due to the selfish and disrespectful nature of the communication approach (Karell, 2018).
Another difference between the two strategies is that unlike assertive communication which involves treating others with respect thus strengthening relationships, aggressive communication involves bullying. For this approach to be successful, and individuals will have to push others around to get what he or she wants. Thus, while assertive communication involves using precise language to get points across while also helping individuals build their self-esteem, aggressive communication is the opposite. It is often unclear and can result in shouting battles and at worst, physical aggression. Moreover, it ends up destroying the self-esteem of individuals involved.
Difference between Assertive and Differential Communication
While assertive communication is a genuinely calm approach, differential communication is an indirectly aggressive approach. Since the receiver of information does not display his or her honest emotions to relay the correct feelings, an element of conflict is created which can manifest itself at a later stage. Moreover, the individual receiving the information further hides the truth by speaking on a sweet voice to falsely accept the information. Thus, is evident that assertive communication is an honest approach while the differential approach involves dishonesty.
Another difference between these two approaches is that the assertive method is a reliable communication method while the differential approach is unreliable. Since the differential approach is based on sarcasm which later results in complaints and gossips, the technique is inappropriate because it will lead to future problems especially when desired objectives are not achieved. Moreover, at the corporate level, the differential communication method is likely to result in sabotage.
Difference between Aggressive and Differential Communication
Having looked at both communication strategies, the most crucial difference between these two approaches is that that aggressive communication is an honest and outright wrong communication method while the differential approach is based on deceit. Often, the aggressive approach is utilized by individuals who are the ones relaying the information while on the other hand, the differential approach is applied by individuals who received instructions from others.
Unlike people using the assertive approach, individuals who apply the differential approach often tend to behave as if they are positively accepting the information yet they are actually against the message being relayed. However, unlike assertive communication where individuals can get in a verbal exchange or even a physical confrontation immediately the information is being passed, the differential approach will create conflicts at a later time.
Conclusion
Given that people engage each other in different situations, every communication approach has its best area of application to yield the desired and most appropriate result. However, having looked at the various communication strategies, it is evident that the most suitable communication method is the assertive approach. Given that human interaction is inevitable, it is better if an individual gives attention to others so that every person can be physically and psychologically healthy. Moreover, if all people strive to grasp the assertive approach, conflict among friends, families, colleagues, as well as other interaction platforms will be significantly reduced.
References
Karell, D. (2018, March 27). 4 Types of Communication Styles. Retrieved from https://online.alvernia.edu/communication-styles/
Newton, C. (2011, July). The Five Communication Styles . Retrieved from http://www.clairenewton.co.za/my-articles/the-five-communication-styles.html
Serenity Online Therapy. (2018). Assertiveness and the Four Styles of Communication. Retrieved from http://serenityonlinetherapy.com/assertiveness.htm
