What does the term "passive-aggressive" mean? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Question

passive-aggressive. Don't know what happened to the rest of "aggressive" the first time....

Answer 1

It means being subtle about your aggression. If your mom wants you to do something that you don't want to do, for instance, she might try to make you feel guilty by saying, "You go on and don't worry about me." This sounds sweet and loving, but it is a way to make you do what she wants by taking a passive approach to it. She COULD shout and scream until she got her way, but that would be plain old aggressive. Or, if you are trying to get out the door, she might ask you "one more question" about some extremely important topic that you would feel like an idiot to ignore. The thing is, she just had an hour to ask you that question, but saved it until you were up and ready to leave.

Answer 2

It does seem like an oxymoron, but what it refers to is a way of being aggressive through "passive" means. For example, if your friend is mad at you, rather than acting out (yelling, hitting, etc), which would be just plain aggressive, he or she would slam doors and give you dirty looks, but when asked what's wrong, would say nothing is wrong and stomp around some more. How annoying is that???

It's something nonconfrontational and pouty people do.

Answer 3

Passive-aggressive means to express anger through passive actions. The classic example is being angry with someone but instead of expressing your anger directly, you show up late or not at all to a planned meeting. Another example is guilting someone by saying literally nice words with a contrary subtext: "It's okay you forgot me at the park, I'll recover from the mugging, and I know it's not your fault."

Passive-aggressive does not include acts of expressed hostility. Sticking pins in deodorant, for example, is hostile.

Compare it to the phrase passive-resistance. Peace marches are expressing resistance to something through passive action. Once a peace march turns hostile, its no longer passive.

Answer 4

Not an oxymoron. It means you do things that are actually aggressive, but in a sneaky way. For instance your husband tells you to put gas in the car so he can go on a trip to see someone you don't like. Instead of arguing with him about going, you just put a little gas in the car, knowing the guage is wrong and he'll get stranded and not see that person.

You claim it was a mistake if he confronts you. Poor dumb little me - I didn't mean anything by it...

Answer 5

it sounds like an oxymoron yes. passive aggressive is when a person or even an animal shows it's passive side when confronted and in an unfamiliar place. sort of like being submissive. but when that person or animal is in its "comfortable" place the aggression side will come out.

Answer 6

It is an oxymoron, yes.......... but passive aggressive behavior is hidden aggression........ leaving the cap off the toothpaste when you know your husband hates that, pushing your kids button's coz you can, being mean without being mad basically....... it shows you have problems and want to work them out, but you're still too upset with them to do anything but needle them.

Answer 7

Passive-aggressive behavior refers to passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to authoritative instructions in interpersonal or occupational situations. Sometimes a method of dealing with stress or frustration, it results in the person attacking other people in subtle, indirect, and seemingly passive ways. It can manifest itself as resentment, stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness, or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. For example, someone who is passive-aggressive might take so long to get ready for a party they do not wish to attend, that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive.

Answer 8

Rather than go into a long line of gabble i would as a psychiatric nurse recomend you go to the site below.
http//emoclear.com then type in passive aggressive in the emoclear search engine as this site will explain all you need to know about a passive aggressive person.

Answer 9

The term refers to the actions of a person who acts aggressively but not in an overt manner. For example, I had a roomate in college who got sick of everyone using his deodorant so he put a needle thru it so that if someone used it they would scratch the crap out of their armpit. He could have just told people to stop using his deodorant but instead chose a very aggressive act. I have to admit it was funny though. Our other roomate used it one morning and starting yelling afterwards!

Answer 10

Being controlling and aggressive in a somewhat hidden manor.