As the name suggests, overt aggression involves outward or open confrontational acts of aggression, such as physical fighting, verbal threats and bullying. On the other hand, covert aggression is more hidden and surreptitious; examples include stealing, truancy and arson.

In contrast to overt aggression, which includes acts meant to harm a peer physically, relational aggression uses a child’s relationship with another teen, or their friendship status, as a way of inflicting social harm (e.g., purposefully excluding a peer from social activities, threatening to withdraw one’s friendship.

1. Aggression that is intended to harm others physically through pushing, kicking, punching, or mentally through physical threats (Crick, et al., 1997). Learn more in: Towards a Communication-Based Approach to Cyber-Bullying. direct aggression with the goal of inflicting harm on a target.

Based on the association between both gossip and aggression with dominance and power, the current study proposed that individuals’ tendency to gossip would be a function of trait aggression and their motive to gossip. Results (N = 353) indicated that there is a relationship between trait aggression and gossip.

Aggression can be direct behaviors such as hitting, kicking, biting, and pushing to name a few. Additionally, aggression can take on an indirect form like teasing, bullying, spreading rumors, name-calling, or ignoring someone.

Indirect aggression is a behavior intended to harm others, particularly others’ social position and self-esteem, through circuitous means. Indirect aggression is exemplified by behaviors such as gossiping behind back, spreading rumors, social exclusion, slandering remarks, etc.

Two broad categories of aggression are commonly distinguished. One includes affective (emotional) and hostile, reactive, or retaliatory aggression that is a response to provocation, and the other includes instrumental, goal-oriented or predatory, in which aggression is used as a means to achieve a goal.

Other examples of passive-aggressive behavior might include avoiding direct or clear communication, evading problems, fear of intimacy or competition, making excuses, blaming others, obstructionism, playing the victim, feigning compliance with requests, sarcasm, backhanded compliments, and hiding anger.

Sulking, backhanded compliments, procrastination, withdrawal, and refusal to communicate are all signs of passive-aggression. When the other person begins acting in such a way, try to keep your anger in check. Instead, point out the other person’s feelings in a way that is non-judgmental yet factual.

AGGRESSIVE COMMUNICATION is a style in which individuals express their feelings and opinions and advocate for their needs in a way that violates the rights of others. Thus, aggressive communicators are verbally and/or physically abusive. Aggressive communicators will often: ▪ try to dominate others.

Anger is another example of a psychological barrier to communication. When we are angry it is easy to say things that we may later regret, and also to misinterpret what others are saying.

Common Barriers to Effective Communication

• Dissatisfaction or Disinterest With One’s Job.
• Inability to Listen to Others.
• Lack of Transparency & Trust.
• Communication Styles (when they differ)
• Conflicts in the Workplace.
• Cultural Differences & Language.

Barriers to effective verbal communication Avoid abstract, overly-formal language, colloquialisms, and jargon, which obscure your message more than they serve to impress people. Using stereotypes and generalizations. Speakers who make unqualified generalizations undermine their own clarity and credibility.