Effects of Habitual Passive-Aggressive Behavior

Passive-aggressive behavior can be exhibited by men or women and can begin at a very early age. Often when someone exhibits passive-aggressive behavior as a child, it is because one or both parents were also passive-aggressive and/or there was a rule in the family that anger was not allowed to be expressed directly. Either way, the child grows up developing a communication style that is unhealthy. This is exhibited by a child having difficulty making and maintaining friendships, as their peers react very negatively to the ambiguous, blaming and sulking nature of the passive-aggressive child. Adults who are passive-aggressive have similar issues in making and maintain friendships. People who habitually use a passive-aggressive communication style for their anger and resentment are unable to keep close relationships with others. Their friends become increasingly frustrated with the adult’s vagueness and inability to take responsibility for their own actions.

In addition, because passive-aggressive behaviors are used to maintain control and power, people who engage in such a communication style rarely have close, intimate relationships with their friends. They usually feel uncomfortable becoming closer than acquaintances. However, this sentiment is never expressed directly and the words the passive-aggressive uses might convey they feel very close to their friends but their actions definitely speak otherwise.

Most affected are their romantic relationships and the mental health of their children. In terms of relationships, their fear of intimacy and close relationships creates a distance in the marriage leaving their partner feeling isolated and lonely. Also, relationship problems are rarely handled in a positive, healthy manner as the passive-aggressive partner will be surprised that the other is unhappy and upset at the status of their relationship. The passive-aggressive spouse will also blame the other for the relationship issues, not accept any responsibility for their actions and in will make their partner feel bad for  asking for anything more.

Growing up with this kind of model can encourage children of a passive-aggressive parent to engage in that type of behavior as well. More importantly, the biggest detriment for the children of passive-aggressive parents is growing up never truly being able to trust what their parent is saying. Since passive-aggressive people are vague in their words but tend to act on their true feelings about a situation, their children often grow up confused by the mixed messages and often grow up experiencing a lot of anxiety. They also grow up having trust issues, having difficulty trusting many other people in their life. In addition, these children grow up to have difficulties in their marriage as they had a poor example of healthy communication between partners.

Needless to say, passive-aggression is not only detrimental for the person exhibiting the behavior, as it keeps their partners and friends at a distance so they never know a truly intimate relationship, but it also severely affects the health of their relationship and of their children.

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