Overcoming Passive-Aggression

[calzephyr]

Bless the shelvers at my local public library, they always seem to put the most serendipitous finds on the top displays. Written by Tim Murphy and Loriann Hoff Oberlin, this book actually talks more about sources of anger than overcoming it, but it was such an interesting read! As it is often said, anger is a misunderstood emotion. I didn't realize how far reaching passive-aggression is though, and I think I like the open, honest anger better than the sneaky hidden anger in others. Probably the most important chapter was how to stop enabling another person's chronic anger - don't be gullible, don't try to be a peacemaker, etc. The examples of how passive-aggression starts (in childhood, natch) was interesting to me as well...there are many things that society takes as "normal" behaviour, but it's only setting children up for being angry adults.

Comments

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Man, I could use that chapter - I've realized in recent years that too many of my students exhibit passive aggressive tendencies, and that I don't know how to deal with them.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I feel more empowered now :-) Just recognizing passive aggression for what it is too is important. It goes through strategies for controlling behaviour, manipulative behaviour, childish behaviour, etc.