What Is Passive-Aggressive Behavior

Passive aggression is often a result of underlying sadness, anger, or insecurity, i.e., any emotions that haven’t been addressed. Interestingly, this phrase was used a long time back during the second world war. At one point, most soldiers were just tired of the war and showed their displeasure and aggression by not following orders. Their behavior was described as passive-aggressive, and we still see examples of such behavior in our everyday lives.

Many people around us exhibit passive-aggressive behavior; in fact, maybe you’re a passive-aggressive person, or perhaps your partner is.

Here’s what you should know about passive aggressiveness and how to identify it.

What Is Passive-Aggressive Behavior?

First, it’s important to pin down the basics. Passive aggressiveness is basically aggression that isn’t shown directly, i.e., not by complaining, arguing, or fighting directly. In fact, aggression is subtly displayed through indirect words or actions. Needless to say, passive-aggressive people often deny that they’re acting in such manners, and it can be hard to make them see their unhealthy behavior patterns.

The fact is that passive aggressiveness exists in some relationships, and it can be caused due to several factors. For some, it’s due to their family dynamics or the way they were brought up. Sometimes, it’s caused due to a constant fear of rejection. On the other hand, many people are also passive-aggressive because they see it as a way to maintain control and avoid conflict.

However, it’s also important to keep in mind that very often, passive aggressiveness is just caused by mental health concerns and difficulty in expressing emotions.

Common Signs of Passive-Aggressiveness

If you suspect you might be passive-aggressive or somebody close to you displays passive-aggressive behavior, here’s how to know for sure:

• They always blame others for their problems.
• They’re not very good at accommodating others’ requests and show bitterness or resentment in such situations.
• They have a stubborn or cynical attitude in general.
• They’re always giving people silent treatment when things don’t go according to their plans.
• They always complain about being misunderstood and unappreciated.

How To Tackle Such Behavior?

If you or someone around you is being passive-aggressive, it’s important to be patient. For starters, you can’t force yourself not to be this way, nor can you force others to stop being passive-aggressive. If somebody is being passive-aggressive, give them space, at least at that moment.

You can have a conversation later on and suggest solutions like hypnosis therapy, for instance. We offer hypnosis services at Blossom Hypnosis to address causes of passive-aggressive behavior.

Reach out to us to learn more about what can be done if someone is being passive-aggressive.