"Friendships are supposed to be a source of comfort, joy and support. But even in the closest relationships, communication can break down, leading to tension. "In friendship, like in all human relationships, misunderstandings and hurt feelings are inevitable," said Vanessa Cornell, a friendship expert and founder of the community support network NUSHU. "What really determines the strength and resilience of a friendship is how those moments are handled. One of the quickest ways to undermine healthy communication is falling into passive aggression.""
""Giving a friend the silent treatment rather than telling her what you are upset about is passive-aggressive," said Irene S. Levine, a clinical psychologist and friendship expert. "It is a way to upset and punish the other person. A roommate who slams doors as she goes from room to room because she is upset about her friend not assuming her share of responsibilities for cleaning up that apartment. She is acting angry without saying anything.""
"Passive aggression also often manifests verbally through your choice of words and tone. "Instead of openly sharing what's going on emotionally, the message comes out in subtle ways, through sarcasm, withdrawal, backhanded comments or small digs that don't quite say what needs to be said," noted Thais Gibson, a relationship expert and founder of The Personal Development School. It's a natural tendency, particularly for people who are uncomfortable with conflict and confrontation."
Friendships can produce comfort, joy and support but communication sometimes breaks down, causing tension. Misunderstandings and hurt feelings are inevitable in human relationships, and how such moments are handled determines friendship strength and resilience. Passive aggression expresses negative feelings indirectly through behaviors like not replying to texts, changing the subject, flaking on plans, or giving the silent treatment. Passive-aggressive verbal tactics include sarcasm, withdrawal, backhanded comments and small digs. Such behavior often stems from discomfort with conflict and confrontation, and it upsets or punishes others while undermining healthy communication and weakening friendships.
Read at HuffPost
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