Interpersonal Communication in Practice: Assertiveness, Boundaries, Dialogue 2300-KID(KS)-OG

The aim of the course is to develop communication competencies focused, among others, on the conscious formulation and expression of one’s needs, emotions, feelings, and boundaries. The course is oriented toward enhancing social competencies related to effective, intentional, and assertive communication. A key element of the course is personal development leading to greater self-awareness and the ability to build stable and satisfying relationships with others.
Students will develop competencies in identifying and eliminating communication barriers; distinguishing between passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive behaviours; and applying methods and techniques that support respectful and firm communication in situations such as defending one’s rights in personal and professional contexts (e.g., in interactions with authority figures), formulating requests or expectations, expressing and receiving praise and criticism, dealing with manipulation, and working with the internal dialogue.
The course includes a set of practical exercises, tests, analyses of communication scenarios, recordings, worksheets, and reflective tasks that enable students to recognise their own communication patterns and consciously modify them toward more intentional, coherent, and constructive dialogue that enhances satisfaction and quality of life.
The theoretical component is based on the foundations of communication psychology, concepts of assertive behaviour, and contemporary approaches to socio-emotional competencies.
The course is structured in modules and delivered asynchronously on the Kampus platform. Each module includes multimedia materials, individual communication exercises, video recordings, quizzes, and reflection cards. This structure allows students to achieve the intended learning outcomes at their own pace while regularly practicing communication habits in real-life situations.
The workshop-based character of the course enables deep personal work, increased self-confidence, and more conscious relationship-building in personal, academic, and professional contexts. The course supports the integration of knowledge about communication with reflection on one’s own behavioural patterns, contributing to greater agency, satisfaction, and effectiveness in interpersonal interactions.
Main topics:
1. Models of interpersonal communication – foundations and common barriers.
2. Assertiveness – definitions, myths, and practical applications.
3. Behavioural styles: passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive.
4. Expressing and asserting one’s rights.
5. Establishing and communicating boundaries.
6. Formulating requests, refusals, anticipatory statements, and “I-messages.”
7. Assertiveness techniques: broken record, FUKO/FUO, Pamela Butler’s graded assertion procedure.
8. Expressing and receiving criticism and positive feedback; dealing with pressure and manipulation.
9. Transforming the inner critic into a pro-assertive internal dialogue.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Remote learning

Course coordinators

Monika Gromadzka

Learning outcomes

The student
Knows:
1. What the structure of basic models of interpersonal communication is and which barriers most frequently disrupt the communication process.
2. What assertiveness is and what its key principles are, as well as how it differs from passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive behaviours.
3. What significance interpersonal boundaries have and what function they serve in building healthy and satisfying relationships.
4. What assertive communication techniques consist of, such as: the broken record, the “I-message”, FUKO/FUO techniques, and Pamela Butler’s graded assertion procedure.
5. How to express and assert one’s own rights, formulate requests, refuse, and give and receive feedback.
6. Which psychological mechanisms influence communication, particularly those related to emotions, needs, internal dialogue, and socio-emotional competencies.
7. How to transform an ineffective internal monologue into a supportive and pro-assertive internal dialogue.
Can:
1. Identify own communication patterns and analyse their impact on interpersonal relationships.
2. Distinguish behavioural styles – passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive – and respond adequately in different social situations.
3. Formulate clear and concrete messages, including “I-messages”, requests, refusals, and anticipatory statements.
4. Set and communicate personal boundaries in a firm manner suited to the context of the situation.
5. Express and receive criticism and praise in a way that supports constructive dialogue.
6. Apply assertiveness techniques in difficult situations, including those involving pressure, manipulation, or boundary violations.
7. Work with internal dialogue, transforming critical messages into more supportive and constructive ones.
8. Analyse communication scenarios, recordings, and everyday situations in terms of communication mechanisms and appropriate strategies of action.
9. Implement practiced communication strategies in personal, academic, and professional life, adjusting the pace of work to one’s needs.
Is ready to:
1. Engage in critical reflection on one’s own communication style and its consequences for relationships with others.
2. Conduct conscious, coherent, and constructive dialogue based on respect, attentiveness, and responsibility for one’s own messages.
3. Express personal needs, emotions, and boundaries in accordance with the principles of assertiveness and with respect for another person’s perspective.
4. Build and maintain satisfying relationships in personal, academic, and professional life.
5. Develop an attitude that supports a sense of agency, responsibility, and conscious decision-making in interpersonal interactions.
6. Continue working on communication habits and developing dialogue competencies that support well-being and quality of life

Assessment criteria

Pre-test and post-test, timely completion of assignments on the Kampus platform.

Practical placement

Bibliography

1. Alberti R., Emmons M. (2021), Asertywność. Sięgaj po to, czego chcesz, nie raniąc innych, GWP.
2. Król-Fijewska, M. (2023). Stanowczo, łagodnie, bez lęku. Dziś. Bookolika. Empik
3. Samfira, E. M. (2020). Assertive communication skills in universities. Educatia Plus, 26(1).
4. Speed, B. C., Goldstein, B. L., & Goldfried, M. R. (2018). Assertiveness training: A forgotten evidence-based treatment. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 25(1), e12216.
5. Stewart, J. (red.). (2012). Mosty zamiast murów. Podręcznik komunikacji interpersonalnej. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.

Notes

Term 2025L:

The course will be delivered through the Kampus platform, in an asynchronous format.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2300-KID(KS)-OG in USOSweb