How to Spot and Stop Passive-Aggressive Behavior

Don’t let it drive you crazy! What does “passive-aggressive” REALLY mean? And why is it so hard to identify passive-aggressive behavior in co-workers and partners? People who have passive-aggressive traits suppress their angry responses because they fear conflict, and the anger comes out in other, more passive ways. 8 Brutally Honest Marriage Truths I Learned From My Therapist For example, instead of having an argument that might risk the end of her relationship, Mary accidentally launders her husband’s white shirts with her red dress so they all come out pink. Or maybe Jeff is furious with his boss, but instead of standing up to him, he forgets to mail the bills, and the business gets a bunch of late fees. Because we are often unaware we are being passive-aggressive, it is difficult to stop behaving this way — even when we hate the results. We are passive-aggressive when we express our anger or hostility indirectly. A cycle then develops like this: Anger bubbling under the surface leads to issues not being addressed leads to more and more indirect expression of our feelings. When confronted about our behavior, we deny any anger or simply say dismissively ‘OK you are right’. The core of passive-aggression is spiteful or sullen co-operation. The person partially does what is expected of him but being full of resentment, he doesn’t do it fully or well. It’s difficult to identify passive-aggressive behavior in others because we often dismiss ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anger Brain and Behavior Publishers Relationships Violence and Aggression YourTango agreements apologize Assertive Boundaries Consequences Emotions Excuse Expectations Feelings Lori Beth Bisbey Partner Passive Aggressive Source Type: blogs