شناسایی مؤلفه‌های روان‌شناختی رفتارهای منفعل-پرخاشگر در روابط زناشویی

حسن طاهریان; تینا اکبریان

Authors

Hasan Taherian Department of Clinical Psychology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Author
Tina Akbarian Department of Cognitive Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

Keywords:

passive-aggressive behavior, marital relationships, marital conflict, thematic analysis, semi-structured interview

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the psychological components of passive-aggressive behaviors in marital relationships. This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The participants were 24 married adults living in Tehran who reported recurrent experiences of passive-aggressive behaviors either in themselves or in their spouses during marital interactions. Purposeful sampling with maximum variation was used to include participants with different gender, age, educational status, and marriage duration. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The main saturation point was reached in the twenty-first interview, and three additional interviews were conducted to confirm conceptual adequacy. After obtaining informed consent, the interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software. Data analysis followed the main phases of thematic analysis, including familiarization with the data, initial coding, theme development, theme review, theme definition, and analytic report writing. The analysis led to the extraction of five main components: suppressed anger and difficulty in direct emotional expression, avoidant-punitive communication patterns, negative cognitive attributions and hostile mind-reading, covert need for control and compensation for perceived relational injustice, and erosion of marital trust and intimacy. Participants described behaviors such as prolonged silence, sarcasm, intentional delay in fulfilling responsibilities, selective forgetfulness, emotional withdrawal, withholding affection, and incomplete performance of shared tasks as common manifestations of passive-aggressive behavior in marital life. The findings indicate that passive-aggressive behavior in marital relationships is not merely a dysfunctional communication style; rather, it emerges from the interaction of suppressed emotions, negative cognitive schemas, avoidance of direct conflict, and covert attempts to restore power within the relationship. Couple-based interventions should focus on direct expression of needs, emotion regulation, restructuring negative attributions, reducing punitive silence, and strengthening emotionally safe dialogue.

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