ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines several more techniques and skills for managing some of the changes and problems associated with getting old: assertiveness, managing stress, writing life stories and expressive writing. One particularly useful application of preference theory is to understand and improve how people communicate with each other. People with different personality preferences tend to communicate in a way consistent with their preferences. Preference theory assumes that people make their best decisions using both Thinking and Feeling, but giving the most weight to the one they prefer. Assertiveness can be defined as respecting people's own rights and the rights of other people. It can be defined in terms of those rights and as skills, such as, saying no, making requests, giving and receiving compliments and giving and receiving criticism. Physical relaxation is a direct way of coping with stress, both immediately and preventively, and instructions/guidelines are widely available.
