Behavior that is passive aggressive can be a sign of a personality disorder. According to the National Library of Medicine, psychiatrists no longer recognize passive aggressive personality disorder as an official diagnosis, but the symptoms still can exist and can still be treated. Behavior that is passive aggressive is behavior that is overtly helpful but passively resistant. A person might comply with others' desires but then passively resist those desires. In the process, the person becomes angry and hostile.
Verbal Signs
People with passive aggressive disorders resent responsibility. They can avoid doing things that they need to do or that they have been told to do. They use procrastination, saying that they'll do it later. They can claim forgetfulness when asked why they didn't do them. Blaming others for things not getting done is another sign of passive aggressive behavior. They can verbally resist the suggestions of others and can complain.
Behavioral Signs
A sign of passive aggressive disorder is sullenness. A person who is passive aggressive can perform tasks inefficiently on purpose. If a person is known to be able to do something efficiently but then performs it in an inefficient manner, it can be a sign of passive aggressive behavior. People who are passive aggressive may have a fear of authority, so they may purposefully avoid situations with people who have authority.
Compliance Signs
A sign of passive aggressive behavior is the manner in which a task is accomplished or the desire of someone else is met. If the desire of the other person is fulfilled but then the act is sabotaged, it could be a sign of bottled-up anger. A person with passive aggressive personality disorder may complete a task but in a useless way. The task may also be completed too late to be helpful.
Other Signs
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center lists other signs of passive aggressive personality disorder including behaviors that exhibit chronic impatience and stubbornness. Also, being easily offended is a sign of passive aggressive personality disorder.
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