Passive communication is a style where one has developed a pattern of avoiding expressing their opinions and/or feelings. They often avoid protecting their rights, and identifying and meeting their needs. People who tend to develop passive ways of communicating usually suffer from low self-esteem and feel “I’m not worth it.” This style of communicating can also lead to feelings of anxiety, helplessness, depression and anger.
Passive communication shows up in behaviors such as these:
- allowing others to deliberately infringe on your rights
- failure to express your feelings and needs
- tendency to speak in a soft tone or apologetically
- a slumped body posture and poor eye contact
Challenge Your Pattern
Lately I find myself repeating this phrase to the many couples who land in my office entrenched in unhealthy communication patterns. Over time, passive individuals do not respond to grievances or annoyances but instead allow them to pile up. Finally the passive communicator may explode with angry outbursts when their threshold for unacceptable behavior is reached. After these angry outbursts the passive communicator often feels guilt and shame which starts their passive behavior again.
How to Challenge Your Passive Pattern
- Recognize your passive behaviors – Partners help each other out by pointing out non-verbal clues to begin with.
- Think about what you need and want – Stop doing what you “think” the other person wants! Get clarity on what is being said from the other person. Stop accepting your assumptions.
- Speak up! – Challenge your assumptions with your partner. For example, “When you said you didn’t care, what were you referring to?”
Porsha Williams, LAMFT
Pwilliams@ GROWcounseling.com