List the types of communication styles. Discuss passive and passive-aggressive communication styles.

What will be an ideal response?


Two people in a mutually satisfying, intimate relationship have different needs, desires, and expectations. How they choose to express them to their partner will affect the relationship’s communication climate. There are four communication styles that affect the climate of a relationship. They are the passive communication style, the aggressive communication style, the passive-aggressive communication style, and the assertive communication style.
A passive communication style is submitting to another’s desires and expectations while concealing one’s own. When a passive approach is chosen, a person values the relationship with the other person more than asserting one’s own needs. If used habitually, however, passive communication will eventually damage the relationship because the person will begin to resent his or her partner as he or she continually ignores his or her own needs, desires, and expectations.
A passive-aggressive communication style is expressing hostility indirectly. For example, one may say yes when he or she wants to say no or complain about others behind their backs. Over time, passive-aggressive behavior damages relationships because it undercuts mutual respect.

Communication & Mass Media

You might also like to view...

The president receives more media attention than Congress and all the federal agencies combined

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

Communication & Mass Media

In the global workplace, the company that can send messages the farthest and the fastest wins.

a. true b. false

Communication & Mass Media

When Willard says, “I will love you forever,” he is using ________ time

A) informal B) formal C) social D) monochronic

Communication & Mass Media

People who speak more than two languages are considered ________.

A. translators B. multilingual C. bilingual D. multicultural

Communication & Mass Media