Hoping to learn the distinctions between aggress and assert

Question

Based on all of the definitions I can find:
I understand aggressing is always offensive, whereas asserting can be offensive and defensive.
I understand aggressing attempts to take or overtake something, while asserting only offers something.
I understand aggressing can be physical or communicative, while asserting is only communicative.
Do you concur?  Do you recognize a significant distinction I've missed?  It seems to me that someone can be physically assertive, someone can aggressively defend themselves, and aggression can be done the beginning, middle and end, unlike all of the definitions that claim it only happens at the beginning.  it's pretty muddy for me...hoping you can make it much cleaner.

Elliot · Answer

Asserting is to take a stand for oneself and one's position. To aggress (hardly ever used) or take aggression is to move to push someone from their position. As such aggression is regarded as more violent than mere assertion. Violence being generally distasteful is to be regarded as the poor choice. Though assertion can be overdone it is meant to be the persuasive, less overt form of persuasion. To each their own.

Answered by Elliot on May 1, 2021

Hoping to learn the distinctions between aggress and assert

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