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Communication & Assertiveness Skills Flashcards

7 cards from real CSAM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Communication & Assertiveness Skills flashcards as text

  1. Which element distinguishes assertive communication from aggressive communication?

    Answer: Assertive communication respects both self and others' rights

    The core of assertiveness is expressing your needs and rights while simultaneously respecting those of the other person.

  2. Nonverbal cues that typically signal aggressive intent include:

    Answer: Finger pointing, invading personal space, and raised volume

    Pointing, crowding someone's space, and raising volume are nonverbal signals that communicate dominance and threat.

  3. A client says, 'I have to speak up or people will keep walking over me.' This reflects which cognitive distortion?

    Answer: All-or-nothing thinking

    The client sees only two extremes — staying silent or being 'walked over' — without recognizing the middle ground of assertiveness.

  4. In conflict communication, DESC scripting stands for:

    Answer: Describe, Express, Specify, Consequences

    DESC scripting (Describe, Express, Specify, Consequences) is a structured assertive communication framework used in anger management.

  5. A client avoids eye contact during difficult conversations because they associate it with aggression. The therapist should explain that assertive eye contact is characterized by:

    Answer: Intermittent, comfortable gaze that is neither avoidant nor fixed

    Assertive eye contact is relaxed and intermittent — enough to show engagement without staring, which can feel aggressive.

  6. Which of the following BEST illustrates negative assertion as an assertiveness skill?

    Answer: 'Yes, I did make an error there and I'll work on improving that.'

    Negative assertion means calmly accepting personal faults or mistakes without becoming defensive or engaging in self-blame.

  7. When a client reports that expressing needs feels 'selfish,' the CSAM specialist should most likely address:

    Answer: How self-advocacy is a right and foundation of healthy relationships

    Clients with anger issues often have core beliefs that label needs-expression as selfish; reframing assertiveness as a basic human right counters this.