I feel resentful when people don’t act the way I want them to act, yet I don’t discuss it with them.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
Generally, I am a very cooperative person.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree
I feel the urge to smash or break things when alone.
Often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
I openly express my emotions.
Always
Often
Occasionally
Never
If I don’t like a work project, I tend to undermine it by missing deadlines, being late to work, doing a bad job, etc.
Often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
I feel irritated when my co-workers or friends ask for something.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
I am quite skeptical about my career, and I am bitter about it.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
I suspect that many people around me have other than pure intentions.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree
I use stubbornness to irritate others without being obvious.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
If there is something I don’t want to do, I will simply say so.
Agree completely
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree
I gossip about people I don’t like.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
Instead of using words to explain what bothers me, I tend to slam doors when angry.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
Take THIS TEST to find out »
I can be quite critical of others.
A lot
Moderately
Somewhat
Not at all
I sabotage the co-workers I don’t like.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I intentionally give backhanded compliments.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I make sarcastic remarks.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I use the silent treatment to punish those who make me upset.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I intentionally push people’s buttons so that they overact and look bad in front of others.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I make vague social media posts hinting at my discontent with my work/partner/family relationships.
Often
Sometimes
Occasionally
Never
I tend to complain a lot.
Agree strongly
Agree
Agree slightly
Disagree
No online test is 100 percent accurate. The test above is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.
If you scored under 18, you have very few or no passive-aggressive tendencies.
However, if you resent others a lot, you may be predisposed to developing passive-aggressive behavior later on.
If your score is closer to 18, you may remember one or several occasions when you employed passive-aggressive tactics; however, you probably acted out of character.
If you scored 19-36, you regularly employ passive-aggressive behavior to achieve your goals or express your discontent.
Remember, not only is this type of behavior toxic, but it is also unproductive.
Because you never spell out things, you are less likely to get your problem solved. Good questions to ask yourself:
- What am I afraid of?
- What do I feel? Am I hurt? Am I resentful? Am I uncomfortable? Do I feel unappreciated?
- What happens if I express my feelings?
- What needs to happen for me to stop acting passive-aggressive?
- How do other people feel when I act like this?
If you scored over 36, you are likely to employ passive-aggressive behaviors habitually. Ask yourself the questions above and try to answer as honestly as you can.
Passive-aggressive behavior itself is not a medical disorder, but if you want to communicate more effectively, you may want to work with a therapist.
You may want to find out why you act the way you do and whether there are unresolved past issues that made you this way.
Another thing to keep in mind, there are some conditions that are associated with passive-aggressive behavior:
- stress
- anxiety
- depression
- bipolar disorder
- substance abuse
- ADHD
Online CBT Platform to Help Deal with Relationship Problems, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, and More. Includes professional follow-up by a CBT therapist. Click here to get started.