Final answer:
The communication style characterized by not expressing opinions, protecting rights, or identifying needs is passive communication. Authoritarian group leadership has a top-down communication pattern, where directives flow from the leader to the subordinates without much input from group members.
Step-by-step explanation:
When someone exhibits a pattern of not expressing their opinions or feelings, protecting their rights, or identifying and meeting their needs, it is an example of passive communication. This communication style is typically characterized by a tendency to avoid confrontation and to allow others to dictate situations, often at one's own expense. People who communicate passively may seem agreeable on the surface, but they often feel powerless and may harbor feelings of resentment.
Group Leadership Communication Patterns
The type of group leadership that has a communication pattern that flows from the top down is known as authoritarian. This style of leadership is marked by a clear hierarchy where the leader makes decisions with little to no input from group members. In a strictly authoritarian setting, communication is typically one-way, with directives coming from the leader and little room for feedback or collaborative dialogue, as opposed to democratic or laissez-faire leadership styles that encourage more participation and input from others in the group.