In other words, an assertive intention regresses into a hostile defense or intimidation. I encourage participants to think of the conflict as a power struggle issue. People get seriously focused or start to squirm. The antagonists are to verbal volley for about ten seconds. They can be loud and abrasive, hostile, whiny or passive-aggressive.
Body language is encouraged.
And then, after a few back and forths, they can reach closure, by saying whatever they'd really like to say to their imagined foe. However, the x-rated warning may not be sufficient. Alas, this exercise does pose a risk, especially with the wrong audience. Let me illustrate. Unbeknownst to me, just before show time, I received word that my West Virginia mountain health spa audience was in their third day of a smoking cessation program.