8 Keys to Eliminating Passive-Aggressiveness

Many people often say "yes" to something when they'd rather say "no". They offer cooperation through words but follow up with how they really feel - in actions that contradict their words. That's passive-aggression. At its heart, passive-aggression is about being untrue to oneself, which makes it impossible to have a clean relationship with others. Passive-aggression as a communication method doesn't make someone "bad". It is simply a strategy learned in childhood as a coping mechanism, a hard-to-break habit. Changing passive-aggressive behaviour requires knowledge, tools and practise, as outlined here. The book offers effective methods for transforming passive-aggression into healthy assertiveness to communicate in constructive ways through eight keys: Recognise Your Hidden Anger; Reconnect Your Emotions to Your Thoughts; Listen to Your Body; Set Healthy Boundaries; Communicate Assertively; Interact Using Mindfulness; Disable the Enabler; and Problem-Solve for Better Outcomes. Hands-on exercises are featured, enabling readers to better understand themselves. Dr. Andrea Brandt's brilliant book unpacks passive-aggressive behavior lucidly, describing its root causes and immediate triggers. Her wonderful case vignettes and exercises teach the reader how to replace provocative and distancing behavior with assertive and caring communication. The result is enhanced closeness and love in your most important relationships. --James Gottfurcht, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and President of Psychology of Money Consultants (01/01/2014)"