Passive-aggressive behavior occurs when a person passively requests and/or demands made of them rather than directly confronting the situation. People who are passive-aggressive resist responsibility and may channel their resentment into behavior such as procrastination, inefficiency or forgetfulness. These behaviors allow individuals to avoid participating in or completing projects.

People who have passive-aggressive tendencies tend to resent authority figures and may be envious of those who get along with people in positions of authority. These individuals also tend to feel cheated, underappreciated and misunderstood, and may chronically complain. Many passive-aggressive people learned the behavior through interactions with family members. Passive-aggressive behavior also is commonly exhibited in workplaces and schools.

The exact cause of a person’s passive-aggressive behavior remains unknown, although it is possible that the roots of passive-aggressive personality disorder reach back into childhood. Because passive-aggressive behavior is concerned primarily with authority, researchers have studied the role that early authority figures have. If a person's first exposure to authority figures was unsatisfying, erratic or ambivalent, the result might be passive-aggressive behavior. It appears also that some personality disorders might be inherited.

Some people seek treatment for the behavior, although this may be related to associated relationship problems or substance abuse. Patients who experience passive-aggressive feelings may benefit from some forms of psychotherapy. However, their tendency to resent authority figures and not recognize their behavior as a problem may make treatment difficult.