An acceptable explanation as to why the outcomes of our passive behaviors have been more submission. Hence, Rich fucks acting a way in our presents, and acting another in the presence of others of the same group. This is from Bateson.

"Complementary differentiation - To this category we may
refer all those cases in which the behavior and aspirations of the
members of the two groups are fundamentally different. Thus
members of group A treat each other with patterns L,M,N, and
exhibit the patterns O,P,Q in dealings with group B. In reply to
O,P,Q, the members of group B exhibit the patterns U,V,W, but
among themselves they adopt patterns R,S,T. Thus it comes about
that O,P,Q is the reply to U,V,W, and vice versa. This differentiation
may be-come progressive. If, for example, the series, O,P,Q includes
patterns culturally regarded as assertive, while U,V,W includes
cultural submissiveness, it is likely that submissiveness will promote
further assertiveness which in turn will promote further
submissiveness. This schismogenesis, unless it is re-strained, leads
to a progressive unilateral distortion of the personalities of the
members of both groups, which results in mutual hostility between
them and must end in the break-down of the system.