If you’ve ever dealt with a mother-in-law (or some other hard-to-please Patty!) who says something is "Totally fine!" when it clearly isn’t, been on the receiving end of the silent treatment, or been ...

Some people are directly aggressive, meaning they aren’t afraid to express exactly how they feel. And other people are passive-aggressive. “Passive-aggressive behavior is best described as a pattern ...

Everyone communicates differently—even in the workplace. According to Princeton University, there are four main communication styles: passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive and assertive. An ...

Receiving a passive-aggressive work email is annoying, and it creates a tough dilemma. Do you muster the strength to ignore their tone and reply with a kind message? Should you match the sender's ...

Direct communication is the bedrock of healthy relationships. But what happens when anger, resentment, or a desire for control is expressed through a veiled, indirect approach? This is the world of ...

Whether it's from a colleague, a friend, or a family member, having the right comeback to a snide remark can cut the awkwardness and steer the conversation back on track. The key is to maintain your ...

Psychiatrist Daniel Hall-Flavin describes passive-aggressive behavior as “a pattern of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them. There's a disconnect between what a ...

“Whenever my husband feels he isn’t being catered to, he would make everything difficult, while saying there’s nothing’s wrong.” —Anonymous “My colleague’s favorite tactic when she doesn’t get her way ...

I have been called aggressive many times when I was simply trying to do my job well. If you have ever run into that mislabeling, or misinterpretation, or feel like you’ve been told to watch your tone, ...

Assertive communication involves clear, honest statements about your beliefs, needs, and emotions. Think of it as a healthy midpoint between passive communication and aggressive communication. When ...