This behavior often occurs in our daily interactions with our friends, romantic partners, family members or colleagues. But what exactly does it mean to be "passive-aggressive"? This condition is related to the expression of certain negative emotions, such as anger or hostility, in a possibly indirect way, according to clinical psychologist Ryan Howes.
You try to convey your feelings about something, without actually saying what you want to say, perhaps even through these expressions that label this as a state.
#1 "Good for you."
At first glance it looks like an expression that conveys sincere happiness for another person's success or achievements, but often this way of speaking has undertones of envy and resentment lurking on the surface. In other words, it expresses the injustice of a certain situation.
#2 "I'm sorry you feel that way."
It seems like a typical passive-aggressive expression to put the blame on another person's feelings, instead of taking responsibility for the hurt you caused.
#3 "It's okay."
Another common passive-aggressive move: Pretending that "everything is fine" when you're actually upset about something is typical of such a condition. The best way to express your opinion or appreciation about a certain situation is to tell the person in front of you how you really feel.
#4 "Whatever."
According to Howes, this comment usually comes after you've tried to explain your point several times, but to no avail. Then you just give up on not being understood and say "whatever".
#5 "If you say so."
This statement is dismissive and implies that the opinion or point of view of the person in front of you cannot be trusted. Rather, expressions like this border on lack of interest and ignorance.
#6 “You are very sensitive.”
Telling someone they are "too sensitive" minimizes the other person's hurt feelings and subtly shifts the blame for an emotional reaction to something you did. A healthier approach would be to accept the pain and try to understand the other.
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Source: HuffPost
