There are many people among us who do not express their negative emotions directly. Has it ever happened to you that you spoke to someone in anger and then the other person responded in a different way by remaining silent?
This is called passive-aggressive behavior. It is a behavior in which a person indirectly expresses anger by hiding his disapproval, anger or resentment without any direct confrontation.
Today we relationshipIn What is Passive-Aggressive Behavior? You will also know that-
- Why does a person behave passive-aggressively?
- What kind of damage can it do to relationships?
- What are the prevention methods?
What is passive-aggressive behavior? Passive-aggressive behavior is a mental state in which a person expresses their negative emotions and anger indirectly rather than directly. When we get angry, we don't say it directly, but express it in other ways. For example, if a mistake is made at work, instead of directly telling the other person, they make a soft comment or remain silent.
Characteristics of passive-aggressive behavior Recognizing this type of behavior is not easy. It happens secretly, but you can recognize it by some symptoms. Let us understand its features graphically.
Types of passive-aggressive behavior There are several common types of passive-aggressive behavior. Like, the silent treatment, putting things off or deliberately not responding to someone on time. Sometimes a person suppresses his feelings and tries to hurt others out of anger. Such people do not directly show anger towards others, but it is evident in their reactions. Such behavior can create tension and mistrust in relationships. This may confuse the other person.
1. Silent Treatment: This is the most common method. When a person is angry with someone, he ignores him completely. This method disturbs the other person mentally.
2. Delay: Repeatedly putting off a task and not doing it properly.
3. Appearance and Gesture: When we express our grief not through words, but through facial expressions or gestures.
4. Making excuses: Making new excuses every time for not doing any work. such as 'I don't have time' or 'I forgot.';
5. Complex: Complicating the issue unnecessarily, so that the other person gets offended.
Some examples of passive-aggressive behavior
- When a member asks for help with something, and another member replies, “I'll do it later,” but still does nothing. This is passive-aggressive behavior.
- A coworker is asked for help with a task, but says, “Okay, I'll see later,” but never helps.
- When a friend is angry, but does not speak directly. Instead, he remains silent or makes excuses.
Why does passive-aggressive behavior occur?
The question often arises as to why some people adopt passive-aggressive (quiet-aggressive) behavior? There can be many reasons for this. Let us understand these reasons.
Fear: Many people are afraid to express their negative feelings directly, because they don't want the other person to get angry with them.
Emotional insecurity: Some people feel insecure about expressing their true thoughts and feelings.
Avoiding conflict: Many times people try to covertly avoid a problem or situation rather than face it directly.
Family or social environment: If a person never expresses his feelings properly in childhood, he adopts passive-aggressive behavior when he grows up.
Disadvantages of passive-aggressive behavior
This behavior not only hurts us, but also our relationships. Let's understand graphically what disadvantages it can have.
Ways to avoid passive-aggressive behavior To avoid passive-aggressive behavior, one should express one's feelings openly and honestly. When we are angry with someone we should speak directly. You should also share your problems yourself. Let's find out senior psychiatrist Dr. 5 Ways to Stop Passive-Aggressive Behavior from Manish Borasi-
1. Direct communication: Express your feelings openly and clearly. If something doesn't feel right, say so.
2. Work on Emotional Intelligence: Understand your feelings and respect the feelings of others. This will facilitate communication.
3. Increase sensitivity: Understand your own and other's feelings, so that conflicts can be avoided.
4. Positive criticism: Take a positive attitude while criticizing, so as not to hurt the other person.
5. Psychological help: If the behavior is severe, seek help from a mental health professional.
We all need to pay attention to our behavior. Passive-aggressive behavior not only damages our personal peace but also has a profound effect on relationships. This kind of behavior ignores the problems. Gradually tension and mistrust builds. If we express our feelings and thoughts correctly, honestly, not only will we feel better about ourselves, but our relationships will also be strong and stable. Therefore, it is extremely important to communicate openly and positively, so that we can achieve both peace of mind and good relationships.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
