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How do I detect aggression in texts or emails?

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🤔 datguybruce100 via Web · May 2, 2026
How can I tell if someone is being aggressive in email? These coworkers be vague af ...
🙂 Boban D. (Psycholinguist) · May 8, 2026
Verbal aggression is highly discouraged and oftentimes penalized in American corporate culture, so negative emotions are commonly expressed in more subtle, vague ways. If you suspect your coworker is unhappy, there are simple ways to identify it. One – if they write in all capital letters, it implies they are either excited or intend to yell. Two – excessive use of 'corporate speak' as in "per my last email" usually indicates annoyance. Third – discussing your behavior as a completed action in the future usually suggests anger or their behalf. An example is if your coworker wrote an email saying "You will complete this by next week." The future tense implies that you have an obligation to comply, much like a parent would say to a young child. Fourth – using expletives or "swear words" in a corporate setting usually implies annoyance. Finally – if you know the person, a quick way to find out if your coworker is upset is by assessing whether this person’s communication towards you has changed suddenly. Sudden shifts in message length, tone, or style are oftentimes caused by negative emotions. However, the aggression might have been caused by something else, not you, as your coworker may be having a tough day or week. It’s important to tell the difference.

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