When passive aggression turns into personality disorder and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Sometimes, unwillingness to go into open conflict can destroy relationships with others.

What is Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder

The Construct Validity of Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder is a behavior disorder in which a person, for some reason, does not voice his true desires and needs to others. But he still desperately wants to declare them. And he does this by showing passive aggression.

However, passive aggression in itself is not yet a symptom. Almost everyone demonstrates this behavior from time to time. For example, he deliberately replies dryly: “Thank you, nothing is needed anymore,” to a somewhat delayed offer of help. Or he says irritably, “Do what you want,” discovering that the partner is not happy with his idea. Either a meaningful picture or a quote is published on social networks in the expectation that a specific person will see it.

It's okay to do this sometimes. But in the case of passive-aggressive disorder, such behavior becomes fundamental and significantly spoils life - both for the aggressor and others.

Why Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder Is Not Quite a Diagnosis

In the International Classifier of Diseases (ICD-10), passive-aggressive disorder is present. It belongs to Other specific personality disorders under the heading "Other specific personality disorders", which, in turn, is included in the large list of mental and behavioral disorders.

But formally, there is no such diagnosis today. The most authoritative directory of mental illness, the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), does not mention passive-aggressive personality disorder at all. Although it was in previous editions.

This, however, does not mean Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment that such a disorder does not exist. The lack of an official diagnosis only suggests that mental health experts are still looking for information on the characteristics, prevalence, and consequences of chronic passive aggression. When these data are finally collected, the diagnosis will be returned to reference books (by the way, recommendations to do this have been heard for a long time already).

How to recognize passive-aggressive personality disorder

While doctors argue about the clinical picture, the symptoms of passive-aggressive disorder are becoming more or less clear.

Its main background is negativism. The person with the disorder looks and feels resentful, oppressed, frustrated, gloomy, and displeased. This is his usual state, on which additional signs of Passive ‑ Aggressive Personality Disorder: Symptoms & Treatment are superimposed.

• Frequent complaints about life and others. Such people (from their point of view) are constantly underestimated, deceived, and tried to get around. At the same time, to the question "What should be changed to make you happy?" it is difficult to answer them. Passive aggressors are focused on making claims. They simply do not believe in the possibility of change.
• Criticism, often unfounded, or contempt for bosses and people who are a step higher in the social or career ladder.
• A dull protest against any requests and instructions. “Why should I do this? What, other people were not found ?! ".
• Irritability if such a person is still forced to carry out an assignment.
• Deliberate slowness in committing "imposed" actions. For example, a passive aggressor may agree to take on part of the work so as not to go into conflict with the boss. But he will do everything to disrupt the deadline.
• Regular non-fulfillment of agreements. Most often this is justified by forgetfulness or the phrase "I'll do it later."

At the same time, a passive aggressor does not go to an open conflict that would help to understand the needs of the parties and find a compromise. He does not voice his desires. Others "must guess" about them.

Why passive-aggressive personality disorder is dangerous

At least - spoiled relationships with others. Psychologists call this situation social maladjustment. A person who always complains, gloomy, and does not want to keep his word is often left without family, friends, and even work.

However, he does not feel guilty. Social collapse seems to the passive aggressor just another confirmation that “everything around is goats” and strive to infringe upon and offend him. Because of this self-obsession, some scholars attribute the A psychometric study of DSM-IV to passive-aggressive (negativistic) personality disorder criteria. chronic passive-aggressive behavior towards narcissistic personality disorders.

Where does passive-aggressive personality disorder come from?

Scientists honestly admit that they do not know the exact reason. However, there are several known factors in Passive Aggressive Personality: Signs, Causes, and Diagnosis that increase the risk of developing chronic passive aggression:

• childhood neglect, abuse and overly harsh punishment;
• unnecessarily low self-esteem;
• alcohol and other substance abuse;
• chronic stress;
• depression;
• anxiety disorders;
• bipolar disorder;
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• schizophrenia.

How to treat passive-aggressive personality disorder

It's a difficult question. First of all, because the passive aggressor himself most often does not see the problem in himself and, accordingly, does not understand why to turn to specialists.

If a person nevertheless realized that the behavior spoils his life, the correction of the disorder should begin with a visit to a psychotherapist. The doctor will be able to determine what exactly the passive aggression is associated with. It may have developed against a background of chronic stress or another mental disorder. In this case, it will be necessary to cope with the original cause - to get rid of the problem situation or to cure the mental disorder, and then the level of aggression will decrease by itself.

Psychotherapy is also important. A specialist, talking with a patient, will teach him to cope with anger, resentment, low self-esteem. Will tell you how to express thoughts, feelings, needs. And will offer healthier ways to solve life's problems.