It is difficult to avoid a passive-aggressive person as they are often very skilled at making others feel guilty. In order to avoid feeling guilt and anger, find out if there are 13 specific reasons why you might be dealing with a passive-aggressive person.

• They want the last word.
• They have been passively aggressive for a long time and it feels like no one has taken notice of their tactics.
• They think they’re really clever when they pull these stunts and that people will admire them for it.
• They don’t fully believe in what they’re doing because they know deep down inside that the behavior is wrong but still do it anyways.
• There’s some underlying emotion that makes them act this way – maybe it’s low self-esteem or something else entirely, but whatever it may be, acting passive-aggressive usually stems from something else rather than just wanting to be mean for the sake of being mean.
• They don’t.

Reasons Why People are Passive-Aggressive

There are 13 reasons why people are passive-aggressive. They range from wanting the last word to low self-esteem, but no matter the reason, these reasons will help you better understand what a passive-aggressive person is going through and how to avoid their antics.

• They want the last word.
• They have been passively aggressive for a long time and it feels like no one has taken notice of their tactics.
• They think they’re really clever when they pull these stunts and that people will admire them for it.
• They don’t fully believe in what they’re doing because they know deep down inside that the behavior is wrong but still do it anyways.
• There’s some underlying emotion that makes them act this way – maybe it’s low self esteem or something else entirely, but whatever it may be, acting passive-aggressive usually stems from something else rather than just wanting to be mean for the sake of being mean. 
• They don’t care about the consequences or the person on the receiving end of their actions – they just want to get under someone’s skin and make them feel bad while not feeling bad themselves.

What Does It Mean to Be Passive-Aggressive?

First, we need to define what it means to be passive-aggressive. Passive aggression is when someone behaves in a way that makes it seem like they aren’t trying but actually are trying. For example, someone might act super nice and caring, only to later drop the bomb on you that they dislike you. Or someone might get mad at you for not doing something that they asked of you or before the situation even happened.

• They want the last word
• They have been passively aggressive for a long time and it feels like no one has taken notice of their tactics
• They think they’re really clever when they pull these stunts and that people will admire them for it

Causes of a Passive-Aggressive Personality

• They have been ignored for a long time.
• There is an underlying anger that makes them act this way.
• They are afraid of being exposed as the person they really are.
• The passive-aggressive person has an underlying desire to be liked and acknowledged.
• There is some underlying emotion that makes them act this way – maybe it’s low self esteem or something else entirely, but whatever it may be, acting passive-aggressive usually stems from something else rather than just wanting to be mean for the sake of being mean.

Do You Need to Start Over?

If you’re dealing with a passive-aggressive person, you might have to start over. They might be so skilled at getting under your skin that it would take forever to get them to change their behavior. The first step is deciding whether or not they need help or if they are willing to change. If the answer’s yes, try some of these tactics on for size.

• The most effective tactic is being kind and understanding towards them. People tend to indulge in their passive-aggressive behavior when someone else doesn’t treat them well, so being kind will show them that you are different from how they’ve been treated in the past.
• Remind yourself that this person is probably hurting more than you are. It could be something as simple as feeling insecure about themselves, which makes them act like this to make themselves feel better – but it could also be something much deeper and more complicated. Ultimately, the best way to approach the situation is by reminding yourself that this person needs help and not giving into their demands for attention or fighting back using anger may just end up making things worse for both parties involved

Takeaway

Passive-aggressiveness is one of the most difficult personality traits to overcome. The following are some of the most common reasons why people are passive-aggressive.