Which phrase best describes passive communication?

• A. Communication that focuses on winning arguments.
• B. Confrontational style that ignores others.
• C. Dominant policing of conversations.
• D. Communication that avoids conflict and may result in silence or agreement.

Answer: (D)

Passive communication means avoiding expressing your own needs or opinions to prevent conflict. People using this style tend to defer to others, hold back what they really think, and may go along with what others want even when they disagree. That’s why the description “communication that avoids conflict and may result in silence or agreement” fits best, since it captures the tendency to stay quiet and yield rather than speak up. In real-life practice, this can lead to unaddressed concerns and unmet needs, and relationships can suffer because issues aren’t voiced. The other descriptions describe more aggressive or controlling interaction styles, not the relinquishing and non-assertive pattern of passive communication.