Passive-aggressive image of communication. How is passive aggression manifested?

Not everyone knows what passive-aggressive character means. Meanwhile, it has a number of distinctive features. Let us further consider how passive aggression manifests itself.

General information

The passive-aggressive personality type is marked by a strong resistance to external requirements. As a rule, obstructive and opposition actions testify to this. Passive-aggressive type of behavior is expressed in procrastination, poor quality of work, "forgetting" obligations. Often the actions of people do not meet generally accepted standards. Moreover, the passive-aggressive personality is opposed to the need to follow norms. Of course, these characteristics can be observed in other people. But with passive aggression, they become a model of behavior, a pattern. Despite the fact that this form of interaction is not considered the best, it is not too dysfunctional, but until such time as it becomes a scheme of life that prevents achievement of goals.

Passive-aggressive person: features

People in this category try not to be assertive. They believe that direct confrontation is dangerous. Carrying out the test for the type of personality, you can identify the characteristics of behavior. In particular, people in this category consider confrontation to be one of the ways for outsiders to interfere in their affairs and control. When addressing such a person with a request that he does not want to perform, a combination of outrage with existing external requirements and lack of self-confidence causes a reaction in a provocative manner. A passive-aggressive image of communication does not imply the creation of a possibility of refusal. Commitments in school or at work people of this category are also outraged. In general, those who are endowed with power, they see as prone to injustice and arbitrariness. Accordingly, as a rule, they blame others for problems that arise in them. Such people can not understand that they create difficulties by their own behavior. Researchers note that, among other things, a passive-aggressive person easily gives in to mood changes and is inclined to pessimistically perceive what is happening. Such people focus on everything negative.

Test for personality type

The total pattern of resistance to standards in the professional and social spheres arises in early adulthood. It is expressed in different contexts. Passive aggression is indicated by a number of signs. Human:

1. It postpones the work, does not fulfill what is necessary, on time.
2. Becomes irritable, gloomy or begins to argue with a person asking him to do what he does not want.
3. Deliberately slow or bad work.
4. He claims that others are demanding him.
5. Does not fulfill obligations, referring thus to forgetfulness.
6. Believes that doing a job is much better than it is valued by others.
7. Offended by the advice that others give.
8. It creates obstacles for the actions of other people, not doing their part of the work.
9. He despises or criticizes those who have power.

Historical reference

Passive-aggressive style of behavior has been described quite a long time. However, before the Second World War, this concept was not used. In 1945, the Military Department described the "immature reaction" as a response to the "ordinary military stress situation". It manifested itself in inadequacy or helplessness, passivity, outbursts of aggression, obstructionism. In 1949, in the technical bulletin of the US Armed Forces, this term was used to describe the soldiers who had this pattern.

Classification

In DSM-I, the reaction was divided into three categories: passive-aggressive, passive-dependent and aggressive. The second was characterized by helplessness, a tendency to hold on to the surrounding, indecisiveness. The first and third categories were distinguished by people's reaction to frustration (inability to satisfy any need). Aggressive type, in a number of aspects having signs of antisocial, is irritated. His behavior is destructive. A passive-aggressive person makes a disgruntled person, stubborn, begins to slow down the work, reduce its effectiveness. In DSM-II, this behavior is classified as a separate category. At the same time aggressive and passive-dependent types are included in the group of "other disorders."

Clinical and experimental data

Despite the fact that the passive-aggressive style of behavior is still poorly understood, at least two works outline its key characteristics. So, Kening, Trossman and Whitman studied 400 patients. They found that the most common diagnosis was passive-aggressive. At the same time, 23% had signs of a dependent category. 19% of patients fully corresponded to the passive-aggressive type. In addition, the researchers found that PARL is observed in women is twice as rare as that of men. The traditional symptomatic pattern included anxiety and depression (41% and 25%, respectively). In the passive-aggressive and dependent types, open indignation was suppressed by fear of punishment or by guilt. Studies were also conducted by Moore, Alig and Smolami. They studied 100 patients with a diagnosis of a passive-aggressive disorder at 7 and 15 years old during inpatient therapy. Scientists have found that problems in social behavior and interpersonal relationships, together with somatic and emotional complaints, were the main symptoms. Researchers also found that a significant proportion of patients suffer from depression and abuse alcohol.

Automatic thoughts

The conclusions that a person makes with PARL reflect his negativism, isolation and the desire to choose the path of least resistance. For example, any requests are considered as a manifestation of exactingness and intrusiveness. The man's reaction is that he automatically resists instead of analyzing his desire. The patient is characterized by the belief that others are trying to use it, and if he does, he will become a nonentity. This form of negativism extends to all thinking. The patient is looking for a negative interpretation of most of the events. This applies to even positive and neutral phenomena. Such a manifestation distinguishes a passive-aggressive person from a depressed patient. In the latter case, people focus on self-condemnation or negative thoughts about the future surrounding. A passive-aggressive individual believes that others try to establish control over them, not appreciating them. If a person receives a negative reaction in response, he assumes that they have misunderstood him again. Automatic thoughts indicate the irritation that appears in patients. They often insist that everything should go according to a certain pattern. Such unreasonable requirements contribute to reducing the resistance to frustration.

Typical installations

The behavior of patients with PARL expresses their cognitive patterns. Delay, poor quality of work are caused by indignation by the need to perform duties. A person is determined to do what he does not want. The installation relating to procrastination consists in following the path of minimum resistance. For example, a person begins to believe that the case can be postponed until later. Faced with the adverse consequences of failure to perform duties, he expresses dissatisfaction with those around him who have power. It can manifest itself in a flash of anger, but, most likely, passive methods of revenge will be used. For example, sabotage. In psychotherapy, behavior can be accompanied by a refusal to cooperate in the treatment.

Emotions

For patients with PARL, the usual conditions will be irritation and anger. This circumstance is quite understandable, since people believe that they are required to comply with arbitrary standards, they are underestimated or misunderstood. Patients often fail to achieve their goals in the professional sphere, as well as in their personal lives. They are not able to understand how their behavior and available installations affect the complexities that they have. This leads to further irritation and discontent, as they again believe that the circumstances are the cause of all. Patient's emotions are largely due to their vulnerability to external control and the interpretation of requests as a desire to restrict their freedom. When interacting with others, they constantly wait for demands and, accordingly, resist.

Prerequisites for therapy

The main reason for asking patients for help are complaints from others that these people do not meet expectations. As a rule, co-workers or spouses turn to psychotherapists. The complaints of the latter are related to the reluctance of patients to provide assistance in household matters. Psychotherapists are often approached by the chiefs, who are dissatisfied with the quality of the work performed by their subordinates. Another reason for visiting a doctor is depression. The development of this state is conditioned by a chronic lack of encouragement in both the professional sphere and in private life. For example, following the path of minimal resistance, constant dissatisfaction with the requirements can cause a person's conviction that he does not succeed. Consideration of the environment as a source of control also leads to the formation of a negative attitude towards the world as a whole. If there are circumstances in which patients of a passive-aggressive type, striving for independence and appreciating the freedom of their actions, begin to believe that others interfere in their affairs, they can develop a severe form of depression.