Planet earth is a round ball of conflicting extremes. In one corner of the earth you will have to endure the biting cold winds while in the other you will be melting in the sweltering heat. On the same note, don’t be surprised if you encounter an overtly optimistic human being on one side and an excessively negative individual on the other. The second character does intrigue you, in a disturbing way as you soon unravel that he or she has been exhibiting inherent passive aggressive traits. The individual will shy away from meeting expectations set in occupational as well as interpersonal situations. You will observe a complex pattern of negative attitudes and inactiveness that you just can’t decipher! The inefficiency and the stubborn behavior plays on nerves and you strive to figure out a technique of sedating the disorder. Let’s delve deeper into the causes and symptoms of passive aggressive traits as you reach the bottom of this page.
Characteristics of Passive Aggressive Behavior
There are a number of causes behind the development of passive aggressive traits in people. When a person has been deprived of the love and importance showered by family and friends, he or she carries a weak threshold for upholding a positive attitude. If nobody panders to a child’s needs and wants, he or she responsively develops a pessimistic approach towards life and builds a series of complex defense mechanisms. The general consensus, hence, suggests that bad upbringing plays the biggest role in the development of this psychological condition. Let’s stress on each trait.
Fear of Intimacy
He or she is afraid to fall in love or reveal his or her true inner emotions. The person constantly denies his/her sentiments of hurt and is paranoid of getting intimate. Such people view the prospect of having an intimate relationship as a trap. As such, they prefer to isolate themselves, although it doesn’t bring them any joy.
Fear of Competition
Feelings of inadequacy dominate and deter them from even attempting to compete or interact with those they consider intimidating. Resultantly, they effuse aggression and wear a façade of unassailability when in reality, they are nothing but self-loathing cowards.
Addiction Procrastination
Passive aggressive traits frequently manifest themselves along with the tendency to overlook deadlines. Such people never conform to their schedules and usually attempt to salvage their lack of efficiency by conjuring bundles and bundles of lies. Procrastination might as well be their middle name, as they have no respect for their professional responsibilities.
Forgetfulness & Ambiguity
Owing to the desire to liberate themselves from all work related bondages, passive aggressive people conveniently adopt the technique of ‘selective forgetting’. This technique prompts them to evade obligations. Moreover, a visible trait of passive aggression is ambiguity. An individual suffering from this condition seldom means what he/she says or does and ends up regretting his/her words and actions in the future.
Obstructionism
For instance, if you request them to perform a certain task or favor, they will readily accept the challenge and promise it to get it done within the established deadline. However, you will be furious to learn that they deliberately delay their duties with the subliminal intention of obstructing the work flow and driving you up the wall!
Blame Game
They are masters of the blame game. For every mistake they commit, they instantly point the finger at somebody else. They aren’t mentally capable of holding themselves responsible for any misdeeds. What is even more absurd is that they believe that another individual deserves to be punished for their faults. They love to set themselves up as innocent victims of tirades and fiascos.
Subtle Attention Seekers
Have you noticed how a passive aggressive individual always misses any planned social gatherings or parties? You soon conclude that he or she is hungry for attention and will resort to immature ways of attaining that. Such people crave for importance and may subtly employ desperate measures to get it.
Dread of Dependency
They fear being too dependent on other people and hence attempt to conquer this apprehension by controlling everybody else. They give off unruly commands and exude pure hysteria. Every relationship is based on some manipulative thought in their head. As such, never make the error of depending on a passive aggressive patient.
Although victims of this psychological disorder are bound by strong chains of bitter resentment, they can overcome this subconscious inferiority complex and lead a life devoid of unnecessary complications.