aggressive Archives - Andrea Harrn Counselling Services

Passive, Aggressive or Passive-Aggressive – what’s the difference?

By Andrea Harrn November 16, 2016 aggressive, passive, passive aggressive 4 Comments

How does passive aggressive behaviour differ from simple passive or plain aggressive behaviour. What’s worse, better or are they all as bad as each other. Passive Behaviour Suzie has been married to Gavin for 4 years. Gavin works in the City, is quite dominating, controlling and enjoys going out for a drink (or two) with his work colleagues at the end of the week. She is a qualified teacher but for now on maternity leave, with 2 small children. Feeling under pressure from Gavin to keep the house clean and tidy is hard on her. Therefore at weekends she likes to make plans to…

A tale of passive aggressive behaviour: Criticism or Feedback

By Andrea Harrn December 28, 2014 aggressive, communication, passive aggressive, relationships, self-awareness, self-reflection No Comments

So you are in a passive aggressive relationship. There is something you want to tell your partner but a little voice tells you that he won’t take it well. Here’s the situation: He likes to talk a lot and in fact he is quite an amusing storyteller. When in company he holds the floor and keeps dinner parties going with his amusing tales. However, he doesn’t know when to stop talking. Silences that might give another person an opportunity to talk are quickly filled by yet another of his stories. You are aware that when others speak…

What is Passive Aggressive Behaviour?

By Andrea Harrn August 27, 2014 abuse, aggression, aggressive, communication, passive aggressive, relationships, resentments No Comments

Passive aggressive behaviour takes many forms but can generally be described as a non-verbal aggression that manifests in negative behaviour. It is where you are angry with someone but do not or cannot tell them. Instead of communicating honestly when you feel upset, annoyed, irritated or disappointed you may instead bottle the feelings up, shut off verbally, give angry looks, make obvious changes in behaviour, be obstructive, sulky or put up a stone wall. It may also involve indirectly resisting requests from others by evading or creating confusion around the issue. Not going along with things. It can either be…

Envy in the Workplace

By Andrea Harrn July 22, 2014 aggressive, bullying, confidence, envy, passive aggressive, self-esteem No Comments

Are you being thwarted from doing your job? Are you aware of little comments here and there that start you doubting yourself? Or perhaps there are disruptions to your workflow caused by the unnecessary interference of another. Do you get that feeling that someone else wants to be you. You are quite probably the target of envy, a most difficult destructive emotion that is hard to fight and even harder to prove. Envious people target those that are successful, bright, popular and have good relationships with others at work and socially. They covet your clients, your sales, your possessions…

Is it ok to be a people pleaser?

By Andrea Harrn July 4, 2013 acceptance, aggressive, anger, assertiveness, bullying, communication, confidence, conflict resolution, divorce, family demands, forgiveness, frustration, inaction, indecision, making changes, manipulation, marriage problems, people pleaser, relationships 2 Comments

I was recently talking to a friend about her relationship with her husband. She said she knows how to keep him sweet. She praises him (even when she’s angry). She doesn’t ask him to help her in the house because she knows that upsets him. When he does things that she does not agree with she keeps her mouth shut. She does not want to rock the boat by upsetting him. I asked her why? What stops her from being honest and this is what she told me. “I want a quiet life. I let things go because I…

What is passive aggressive Behaviour?

By Andrea Harrn June 7, 2011 abuse, aggression, aggressive, anger, defence mechanisms, emotional, passive, relationships 4 Comments

Put simply passive aggressive behaviour can be described as a silent form of aggression. It is where you are angry with someone but do not or cannot tell them. It may involve, shutting off verbally, it may involve angry looks, obvious changes in behaviour, being obstructive, sulky or stonewalling. It is characterized by an indirect resistance to the demands of others and an avoidance of direct confrontation, as in procrastinating, evading, pouting, or deliberately creating confusion. A passive aggressive individual doesn’t always exhibit outward anger or appear malicious. At first glance, the behaviour might appears unassuming, gracious and benevolent; underneath…