Understanding the Passive Aggressive Conflict Cycle (PACC) helps observers to be able to look beyond behavior and better understand what is occurring beneath the surface. This article presents a real-life example of a seemingly minor conflict between a teacher and child that elicited an apparent major overreaction by the adult. Also provided is a breakdown of the five stages of the PACC. Understanding and insight into the repetitive nature of the PACC can help adults disengage from destructive conflicts and choose relationship building responses.