# What is "passive-aggressive?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 14, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709 "2011-08-14T18:36:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![joeapec\_yahoo.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@joeapec\_yahoo.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joeapec_yahoo.com)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709/1 "2011-08-14T18:36:53Z")

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A very solid explanation; thank you.

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**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709/2 "2011-08-14T18:53:19Z")

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I know _you_ are, but what am _I_? Sorry, couldn’t resist…😉

Anyway…I am comfortable with how it’s defined in the _Wikipedia_ entry. Not sure if it’s as comprehensive a definition as you require, but I’ll quote it for what it’s worth:

" **Passive–aggressive behavior** , a personality trait, is passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations in interpersonal or occupational situations. It is a personality trait marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive, usually disavowed resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.

It can manifest itself as learned helplessness, procrastination, stubbornness, resentment, sullenness, or deliberate/repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible.[1]"  
Excerpted from: [Passive-aggressive behavior - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive-aggressive)

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**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709/3 "2011-08-14T19:09:30Z")

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I could look up the link to the column and post it here, but how would anyone really benefit by my doing that instead of just waiting for someone else. Let them take the heat if it’s the wrong column.

> [@](#):
>
> The most telling complaint, in my opinion, was that merely being passive-aggressive isn’t a disorder but a behavior–sometimes a perfectly rational behavior, which lets you dodge unpleasant chores while avoiding confrontation.

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-passive-aggressive/592709/4 "2011-08-14T19:12:05Z")

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[Here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2453/what-is-passive-aggressive)is a link to the column (I think.)