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Passive-Aggressive Communication

Written by Robert Bacal

Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Passive-aggressive behaviour is the term used to describe behaviour that is passive in expression but is aggressive or malicious in intent.  Learn more about how passive-aggressive communication can provoke conflict in the workplace. The purpose of passive-aggressive behaviour is to express anger without having to be responsible for that anger, so anger can be denied.  Passive-aggressive behaviour may include a  range of nonverbal behaviour (sighing, rolling of eyes, twiddling, etc.).  This type of communication is frustrating for people who have to deal with it because the person using it is not willing to actually deal with whatever is bothering them, but would prefer to play guerilla-warfare by pecking at others in oblique ways.  Examples: "why would you think I would be angry at being screwed?" "no, no, there's no problem" (when clearly there is) This is an excerpt from Conflict Prevention In The Workplace.  For more detailed help on workplace conflict, click here. You can learn more about cooperative communication by looking at a free preview of the Communicating Cooperatively In The Workplace helpcard.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 February 2004 )