The present investigation empirically evaluated whether self-reported assertiveness and role-play assertiveness were associated with interpersonal success in a group of 30 boys. Using a known-groups methodology, 15 popular boys and 15 rejected boys completed self-report and role-play measures of assertiveness. Behaviors traditionally associated with assertiveness, as well as new inductively determined behaviors, were observed and coded. Popular boys demonstrated significantly higher levels of both traditional and inductive behaviors. Moreover, total scores on the inductive behavioral code correlated significantly with self-reported assertiveness, whereas total scores on the traditional code did not. An initial approach to the empirical validation of treatment targets is provided, and the importance of this process for clinical assessment is underscored.
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