基於自我肯定性與認知之間的關聯，及從個人外圍認知結構中尋找更高層的核心信念，將更能作為認知上真實而持久改變的基礎。本研究主要的目的在於探討高、低自我肯定傾向大學生在外圍－自動化思考及核心信念的差異情形，同時瞭解高、低自我肯定傾向大學生在認知與行為上的表現。以「個人生活信念量表」篩選出高、低自我肯定傾向的自願者各十位為對象，進行深度訪談，再將訪談的內容進行開放編碼以資料分析，分析後發現高、低自我肯定傾向的大學生認知行為上的差異，其核心關鍵在於人己分化的清楚程度。亦即是否能夠適當地釐清界線，設定適度的彈性底線，掌握自己是獨立個體的本質，忠於真實自我而勇於表達感受、需求，並且理性地維護個人權益。玆將結果說明如下：
一、高自我肯定傾向大學生之認知行為：
1.「人際觀點」方面共找出九類特質：傾聽自己的感覺、選擇自己舒坦的模式、維護自己的權益、自己有受尊重的權利、自我考量選擇的空間、自我悅納、設定彈性的底線、人己兩利的原則、同理他人的感受。
2.「認知結構」方面共找出七類特質：情境明確性、自我確定性、責任歸屬、人事分開、追求真實、界線清楚、清楚交代。
3.「思考歷程」共找出四類特質：彈性思考、不苛求完美、持平性看待、正向的思維。
二、從研究者眼光，找出高自我肯定傾向大學生其「人際觀點」的核心信念特質為「尊重自己並且尊重他人」；「認知結構」的核心信念特質為「回復事物真貌，去個人中心化」；「思考歷程」的核心信念特質為「自我鼓舞、滋養性思考」。
三、低自我肯定傾向大學生之認知行為：
1.「人際觀點」方面共找出十一種特質：救贖信念、不設底線、道德意識、他人為重、設身處地、體恤順從、在乎他人的看法、自我抹煞的態度、偏低的自信與自評、負向評價的焦慮感、無法正視自身的感受。
2.「認知結構」方面共找出八種特質：逃避傾向、消極壓抑、淡忘了事、自我慰解、避免衝突、宿命傾向、語彙模糊、缺乏確定與覺知。
3.「思考歷程」方面共找出八種特質：災難預期、嚴格要求、追求完美、無端擴大、過渡推論、禁令腳本、慣性定律、否定性自我形容。
四、從研究者眼光，找出低我肯定傾向大學生其「人際觀點」的核心信念特質為「企求所有人的肯定，低自我尊重感」；「認知結構」的核心信念特質為「以和為貴、輕忽權益、枉屈真實」；而「思考歷程」的核心信念特質「自我批判、侷限性思考」。
根據本研究結果，研究者對輔導工作及未來進一步的研究，提出以下建議：
一、對輔導工作上的建議：
1.積極推廣自我肯定的觀念。
2.建立肯定行為的診斷評量表。
3.宣導並加強正確的親職教育觀念。
4.大力地提倡關懷自己的理念。
5.適度培養輔導員人己分化之觀念。
6.瞭解並善用高、低肯定性為背後之信念。
7.關懷並協助克服害羞的困擾。
二、對未來研究的建議
1.考慮以不同群體或姓別作為研究對象，可據以設計適合不同性別的肯定訓練方案。
2.探討國人在不同發展階段對自我肯定的看法與接納程度。
3.從溝通分析或價值澄清取向探討自我肯定的訓練方案，或加以折衷整合。
4.配合視聽器材之使用，作為口語、非口語之觀察、回饋或檢核依據。
5.從原生家庭觀點，探討非肯定的否定性內在對話如何發展而成。
6.從傳統文化的觀點，尋找影響肯定行為的因素。
7.延續人己分化不清之主題，探討共依存關係。
8.發展自我肯定標準化評量工具。
9.研究自我肯定所顯現的情境性或特質性因素。

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of peripheral cognitive and core cognitive process for college students with high and low assertive tendency. Ten pairs of high and low assertive tendency college students volunteered to participate in the study. Information was collected by in-depth interviews, and analyzed by open-coding method. The results revealed that the core cognitive difference are the degree of differentiation of self and other. The main findings were as follows:
1.The cognitive & behavior in respect of college students with high assertive tendency:
(1)"Interpersonal view" includes nine kinds of charactristics--Listening to one's own feelings, Treating yourself with comforts, Standing up for your own right, the right to be respected, Free will of self decision-Making, Self-appreciation & self-acceptance, Setting limit, Reciprocal perspective, empathy.
In the researcher's opinion above-mentioned points can identify that the core quality prove to be「respect oneself / respect others」.
(2)"Cognitive structure" includes seven kinds of characteristics--The definite sutuation or standpoint, Self-certaninty, Responsibility & attribution, The principle of objectivity, Seeking reality, Clarifying boundary, Clear expression
From what we mention above, the core quality is「internal & external reality / get rid of self-centralism」.
(3)"thinking process" includes four kinds of characteristics--Elastic thinking, Not questing for perfection, Unbiased viewpoint, Positive thinking.
From what we mention above, the core quality is「rationality & self-support thinking」.
2.The cognitive & behavior in respect of college students with low assertive tendency:
(1)"interpersonal view" includes eleven kinds of characteristics--Without setting limit, the faith of delivering others from sufferings, The moral sense, Overconsideration, Anxiety of being evaluated negatively, Being subjected to other's opinion or view, Considering others before yourself, Consideration & compliance, lgnoring your own feelings, The attitude of self-effacing, Low self-esteem & confidence.
From what we mention above, the core quality is「expect all the people's affirmation / low self-respect」.
(2)"Cognitive structure" icludes eight kinds of characteristics--the tendency of avoidance, sabotage & suppression, Forgetting& neglecting, Self-consolation, Avoiding conflicts, Fatalism, Deficit in self-affirmation & in self-recognition, Vague exprssion.
From what we mention above, the core quality is「The fear of conflicts / look down upon one's own right / distort the fact」.
(3)"thinking process"includes eight kinds of characteristics--Negative self-introspection, Anxicipation of catastrophizing, Setting rigid rules, Principle of perfection, becoming accustomed to, Exaggeration & magnification, overgeneralization, injunction script.
From what we mention above, the core quality is「self-judge & restrict thinking」.
Based on the result, discussions and suggestions for future research were also presented.