Passive-aggressive behavior: Difference between revisions
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'''Passive-aggressive behaviour''' refers to passive, sometimes [[:wikt:obstructionist|obstructionist]] resistance to authoritative instructions in [[interpersonal]] or occupational situations |
'''Passive-aggressive behaviour''' refers to passive, sometimes [[:wikt:obstructionist|obstructionist]] resistance to authoritative instructions in [[interpersonal]] or occupational situations. It can manifest itself as [[resentment]], [[:wikt:stubborn|stubbornness]], [[procrastination]], [[:wikt:sullen|sullenness]], or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. For example, someone who is passive-aggressive might take so long to get ready for a party they do not wish to attend that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive. |
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==Description== |
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Someone who engages in passive-aggressive behavior will typically not confront others directly about problems, but instead will attempt to undermine their confidence or their success through comments and actions which, if challenged, can be explained away innocently so as not to place blame on the passive-aggressive person. |
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In some instances of passive-aggressiveness, the person will solicit the confidence of others as to their ability to perform duties, and then purposely sabotage those duties through [[procrastination]] or mishandling responsibility. Subsequent demands for performance are laid aside with claims of interference by the demanding parties or some other condition outside the control of the influence of the person who is engaging in passive-aggression, when in fact the delays and poor performance are due to the person's internal perception that to perform the task at another's demand is a demeaning insult to them. The omission of performance leaves the person in control of the situation, and allows that person to continue the aggressive behavior toward others. In cases where passive-aggression behaviors may indicate a personality disorder, these behaviours can persist even if it means personal loss to the passive-aggressive person, i.e. job loss or loss of esteem by others. |
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Some passive-aggressive behaviour may result from society's conditioning of individuals; direct confrontation can lead to harmful consequences. For example, confronting one's [[management|manager]] may lead to the loss of opportunities, such as being passed over for a [[promotion (rank)|promotion]] or even losing one's [[employment|job]]. Not all passive-aggressive behavior is problematic or a sign of a disorder, but it may still lead to isolation from others due to frustration from dealing with the passive-aggressive individual. |
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Often passive-aggressive behavior manifests itself in individuals who view themselves as "peaceful". These individuals feel that expressing their anger through passive-aggressive behaviour is morally favorable to direct confrontation. Indeed, there are many cases where passive-aggressive behavior may be more effective, and in that sense more rational, than direct confrontation. |
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==Passive-aggression as a personality disorder== |
==Passive-aggression as a personality disorder== |
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Revision as of 17:35, 28 October 2006
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Passive-aggressive behaviour refers to passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to authoritative instructions in interpersonal or occupational situations. It can manifest itself as resentment, stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness, or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. For example, someone who is passive-aggressive might take so long to get ready for a party they do not wish to attend that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive.
Passive-aggression as a personality disorder
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Passive-aggressive personality disorder (also called negativistic personality disorder) is a controversial personality disorder said to be marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.
It was listed as an Axis II personality disorder in the DSM-III-R, but was moved in the DSM-IV to Appendix B ("Criteria Sets and Axes Provided for Further Study") because of controversy and the need for further research on how to categorize the behaviours in a future edition. On that point, Cecil Adams writes: "Merely being passive-aggressive isn't a disorder but a behaviour — sometimes a perfectly rational behavior, which lets you dodge unpleasant chores while avoiding confrontation. It's only pathological if it's a habitual, crippling response reflecting a pervasively pessimistic attitude" [1].
When the behavior is part of a disorder, the lack of repercussions resulting from passive-aggressive behaviour can lead to an unchecked continual attack, albeit passive, on one's acquaintances. The treatment of this disorder can be difficult, mostly because efforts to convince the person that they have this problem are met with resistance, and the passive-aggressive will frequently leave a treatment regimen claiming that it did no good. Since the effectiveness of various therapies have yet to be proven, these individuals may be correct.
In the psychoanalytic theory of transactional analysis, many types of passive-aggressive behavior are interpreted as "games" with a hidden psychological payoff, and are classified into stereotypical scenarios with names like "See What You Made Me Do" and "Look How Hard I've Tried".
History
The term "passive-aggressive" arose in the U.S. military during World War II, when officers noted that some soldiers seemed to shirk duties by adopting passive-aggressive type behaviours. Also explored extensively in college years, when certain people will try to mask real feelings of anger and hurt with sarcastic and silly comments. [1]
Common signs of Passive-aggressive personality disorder
There are certain behaviors that help identify passive-aggressive behavior. [2]
- Ambiguity
- Avoiding responsibility by claiming forgetfulness
- Blaming others
- Chronic lateness and forgetfulness
- Complaining
- Does not express hostility or anger openly
- Fear of competition
- Fear of dependency
- Fear of intimacy
- Fears authority
- Fosters chaos
- Intentional inefficiency
- Making excuses and lying
- Obstructionism
- Procrastination
- Resentment
- Resists suggestions from others
- Sarcasm
- Sullenness
A passive-aggressive may not have all of these behaviours, and may have other non-passive-aggressive traits.
References
- ^ ""Definition of Passive-aggressive"". MedicineNet.com. Retrieved 2006-06-15.
- ^ Scott Wetzler, Ph.D. ""Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man"". Retrieved 2006-06-15.
External links
- Dual Diagnosis and the Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder - background, diagnosis, treatment
- The Passive-Aggressive Organization - Harvard Business Review article, Oct 1, 2005.
- What is "passive-aggressive"? at The Straight Dope
- Recovery from Passive Aggressive at Dr. Irene's Verbal Abuse Site
- Eliminating Passive Aggressiveness