Passive-aggressiveness is not recognized as an official mental disorder, according to Medline Plus, but is a condition that can cause problems. The behavior consists of agreeing to do what others say while refusing to comply in a passive manner. If you're an athlete who displays passive-aggressive characteristics, you may become more aggressive and hostile, causing a host of conflicting responses from coaches and authority figures.
Behavior
Rather than openly disagreeing with a coach or another authority figure, if you have a passive-aggressive personality, you may exhibit your feelings by forgetting responsibilities and commitments, procrastinating or performing tasks incompletely. Passive-aggressive behavior often is displayed through complaining, sulking, resentments and outright hostility.
Child Development
Being pushed into playing a sport may cause you to develop the personality trait, according to "Afraid to Rage," a June 2008 article in "Psychology Today." According to the author, clinical psychologist Leon Seltzer, children whose wishes and desires are ignored often develop resentment toward parental pressure and develop ways to react that don't involve direct refusal to participate in a sport. Kids who are punished when they refuse to cooperate with their parent's instructions may develop a fear of confrontation and carry on their passive-aggressive behavior throughout adulthood.
Cover-up
A desire to cover up unacceptable behavior may lie behind your passive-aggressive actions and require interventions to treat the underlying causes of your problems. According to a January 17, 2002 roundtable article in "The Physician and Sports Medicine" by Elizabeth Joy, M.D., a team physician at the University of Utah, and her colleagues, female athletes who suffer from eating disorders, which can lead to serious medical issues including missed menstrual cycles and osteoporosis, suffer from deeper psychological issues that often are hidden behind passive-aggressive behavior. The hostile behavior is designed to cover up the medical considerations and keep people away who might discover the truth.
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids also play a role in hostile, aggressive behavior, which is often masked with complacency. According to DrugAbuse.gov, athletes turn to the substance to increase muscle mass and improve performance. Anabolic steroids are controlled substances; DrugAbuse.gov reports that they are used illegally by anywhere from one to six percent of athletes. The drugs affect your hormones and can lead to aggressive behavior, especially if you have a predisposition to develop a passive-aggressive personality disorder.
Treatment
According to Medline Plus, passive-aggressive behavior often can be treated successfully with cognitive therapy to help you learn more effective means of communicating. Behavioral therapy can teach you how to be healthily assertive. Underlying issues such as drug abuse, an eating disorder or poor social skill development must be treated first; if those issues can be dealt with, therapeutic treatment for passive/aggressive behavior will be much more effective.
References
- "Psychology Today"; Afraid to Rage; Leon Seltzer; June 15, 2008
- "The Physician and Sports Medicine"; Roundtable: Team Management of the Female Athlete Triad --Optimal Treatment and Prevention Tactics"; Elizabeth Joy, M.D., et al; January 17, 2002
- Medline Plus: Passive Aggressive Personality Disorder
- Drug Abuse: Anabolic Steroids
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