In the summer of 1971 I found myself on a London‐bound train wondering why on earth I had said goodbye to my wife in order to spend a week on a DES course in group teaching methods at the Polytechnic of Central London. Didn't I have a research project to attend to? And what about those lecture...

Good and bad justifications for Assertion Training are examined, and it is emphasised that it is crucial trainees are selected by need, not status. AT must be treated as complementary to other training activities. The relationship of assertiveness and aggression is discussed. Effective AT...