How To Deal With Passive Aggressive People?

Have you ever met someone who has a passive aggressive personality? Passive aggressive behavior can create a toxic environment and fill the entire place with a lot of negativity. To develop a growth promoting environment for yourself you need to learn how to deal with a passive aggressive person.

Before we do that, let me shed some light on passive aggressive behavior so that we are all on the same page;

Have you ever met someone who has a passive aggressive personality? Passive aggressive behavior can create a toxic environment and fill the entire place with a lot of negativity. To develop a growth promoting environment for yourself you need to learn how to deal with a passive aggressive person.

Before we do that, let me shed some light on passive aggressive behavior so that we are all on the same page;

Brief Description Of Passive Aggressive Behavior

As the name suggests, passive aggressive behavior is a type of behavior where people do not express their complaints, irritations, frustrations, or problems directly. Rather they choose to entangle their thoughts and words and convey their feelings indirectly. They choose the passive path.

So when a passive aggressive person is either angry or sad or irritated, they choose to express their feelings using completely opposite words of what they really feel. Let me tell you they are not being sarcastic!

Read more about passive aggressive behavior here – Passive Aggressive Behavior: Signs You Are Using It To Cope

What Are The Signs Of A Passive-Aggressive Person?

Before we get on to ‘how to handle passive aggressive people’ we first need to know the signs of a passive aggressive person. So, let’s quickly look at some signs? Shall we?

Here you go;

• Passive aggressive people recent & oppose others requests and demands
• Corporations are not their cup of tea, they make things difficult because they can’t cooperate well.
• There is intentional procrastinationand show zero interest whiling doing things for others
• They have a very hostile attitude
• They are always complaining about how they are not appreciated enough or how others cheat on them, etc.
• Passive aggressive people engage in a lot of stonewalling (cut ties with people with even explaining) e.g. silent treatment.
• They make use of a lot of sarcastic comments
• They often pretend to agree with your ideas but they actually disagree with them
• They never take responsibility for their actions, they use the blame them
• Non-compliance is what they abide by

Now that we know what passive aggressiveness is, let’s finally look at ways to deal with passive aggressive people at work, home, school, in a relationship, etc.

How To Deal With a Passive Aggressive Person?

Knowing how to handle a passive aggressive person is very important otherwise it will directly attack and crumble your peace and calm. If you know a person who has a passive aggressive personality, here’s how to outsmart them;

1. Identify passive aggressive behavior: the first step in dealing with passive aggressive people is to know what passive aggressive behavior looks like. The above mentioned behavior list will help you with that.
2. Let them know they’re safe: no matter how much their passive aggressive behavior bothers you, know that they are struggling too. Help them feel safe and let them know that it’s safe for them to be true to their feelings and raise their concerns.
3. Be patient with them: they somehow often feel vulnerable and attacked so make sure you are calm when you are talking to them. If they feel like they are being targeted they will spread their negativity even more.
4. Give them space to explain: Passive aggressive people take time to say what they actually feel and then they get carried away and begin blaming others. So it’s important to give the space but don’t let them blame you.
5. Point out problematic behavior: whenever you find people expressing passive aggressive behavior make sure you call out those behaviors specifically. This will be beneficial for the both of you.
6. Don’t dig graves: there’s no point telling them how hurtful they have been over the years. Address the issue at hand and rather than questioning their statement, try telling them how their statement has affected you.
7. Keep your distance: if you think that the passive aggressive behavior is bothering you way too much, just walk off. Don’t be around people who disturb your mental health and walk off only after telling them that their passive aggressive behavior is the reason you decide to keep a distance.

That’s All Folks!

I hope you found this blog informative and interesting and also learnt how to deal with passive aggressive people. Passive aggressive behavior can harm your mental peace so it’s better to keep some coping strategies in your pocket.

Thanks for reading.

Take care and stay safe.