The aggressive and passive/aggressive styles are commonly used because they work. The author goes to lengths to claim that they make the practitioner unhappy in

The aggressive and passive/aggressive styles are commonly used because they work. The author goes to lengths to claim that they make the practitioner unhappy in the long run, but that sounds like “crime never pays” wishful thinking to me. You can be honest and ethical with aggressive and passive/aggressive styles. It depends how you deploy them. For instance, deliberately doing a task badly is totally ethical, unless you made a promise (implied or explicit) to do it to the best of your ability. In many casual life situations it communicates your lack of commitment without forcing the other party to experience a direct conflict with you. It’s not necessarily an attempt to escape any consequences.