Friendships thrive on open communication, yet people often rely on hidden meanings to express their frustration. When someone ...

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 ...

Spotting passive-aggressive behavior isn't always easy. Here's how to recognize and deal with passive aggression in your relationships. In truth, some passive-aggressive people might not ever reach ...

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 ...

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 ...

Emily Laurence is a journalist, freelance writer and certified health coach living in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in writing about mental health, healthy aging and overall wellness. For ...

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

“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 ...

Communication is one of the major skills covered in cognitive behavioral therapy. Although therapy is often with an individual, relationship problems are a common focus of treatment. Helping someone ...

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 ...

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, ...