There are two main reasons why a parent would give their child/adult child the silent treatment: their parent is a narcissist or they are emotionally immature. The narcissistic parent likes to be in control at all times. They do not like it when you attempt to assert a boundary, say no, or try to have your own mind and do things your own way.
Full Answer
Why do narcissists give you the silent treatment?
The silent treatment of a narcissist is almost like a self defense mechanism. When they are threatened, according to their psyche, to a compromise or a situation that they don’t want to be in, they will play their cards and want the other person to retrace their steps. The silent treatment is pretty similar to a bad breakup.
How to deal with the silent treatment?
If your partner is using the silent treatment, here are some things you can do:
- Set boundaries – You deserve respect and if they aren’t willing to give it to you then there need to be consequences. ...
- Don’t engage – Engaging with a narcissist when they are giving you the silent treatment will only prolong their pity party. ...
- Get support – It’s important to get an outside perspective when dealing with the silent treatment. ...
What are the effects of Silent Treatment?
What to Do If Someone is Giving you the Silent Treatment
- show the person you are not bothered by their behavior
- do not let the perpetrator witness your negative emotions
- tell the person their behavior is immature, controlling, desperate, manipulative, ridiculous, etc. and laugh it off.
Why are you receiving the silent treatment?
The silent treatment is a sign that communication in the relationship has broken down. By working on the communication and striving to create an environment where you can both be open and honest about your feelings; you will strip away most of the reasons for applying the silent treatment.
What do you do when your adult child gives you the silent treatment?
If you don't know what you have done to contribute to your daughter's silence treatment, then try the following:Give her space for a few hours. ... Initiate dialogue in her presence with simple “hellos” and “love you's” as she passes by you.Verbalize that you are present and available if she wants to talk.More items...•
What do you do when your adult daughter ignores you?
Five Tips When Estranged and Cut Off From Your ChildGet Support. Being cut off by your child, with no ability to understand, communicate and resolve things, is difficult enough. ... Don't Cut off in Response. ... Don't Feed the Anger. ... Listen to Your Child Without Defending Yourself. ... Focus on Yourself, Not Your Child.
Should I give my parents the silent treatment?
Rule #1: Don't Take It Personally Many parents take the silent treatment personally. After all, it's designed to make you feel powerless as a parent. And parents hate that feeling. If you take the silent treatment personally, you may end up fighting with your child out of frustration.
Why do children abandon their parents?
Some children feel that they weren't loved or nurtured sufficiently. Sometimes that is because they were reared in a time or a culture that didn't value open expressions of love. Sometimes it is because their parents truly had a hard time expressing their feelings.
Is it normal for adult children to ignore their parents?
In fact, psychologists say that the parent-child relationship is typically more important to the parent—and that's a perfectly normal part of human psychological development. But it also means that absence is often felt more strongly by the parents than by the adult children.
Why is my grown daughter so mean to me?
She Doesn't Have Healthy Coping Mechanisms. If your daughter doesn't have healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with strong emotions, she's likely to lash out at others. This means that whenever she's going through something, she will effectively make life miserable for those around her.
What is the psychology behind the silent treatment?
The silent treatment is a particularly insidious form of abuse because it might force the victim to reconcile with the perpetrator in an effort to end the behavior, even if the victim doesn't know why they're apologizing. “It's especially controlling because it deprives both sides from weighing in,” Williams said.
Is silent treatment a form of control?
Recognizing other types of emotional abuse Some people lack effective communication skills or need to retreat into themselves to work things out. To emotional abusers, though, the silent treatment is a weapon of control. At first, it might be difficult to know for certain if you're dealing with a bigger problem.
How do you respond to silent treatment?
How to respondName the situation. Acknowledge that someone is using the silent treatment. ... Use 'I' statements. ... Acknowledge the other person's feelings. ... Apologize for words or actions. ... Cool off and arrange a time to resolve the issue. ... Avoid unhelpful responses.
How do you deal with a disrespectful grown daughter?
How to Deal with a Disrespectful Grown Child, According to 5 ExpertsMake an agreement.Be a creator instead of a reactor.Validate what they feel, whether it's right or wrong in your eyes.You can only control who you are in any relationship.Treat them the same way you would a friend.Do your best to get curious.More items...•
What is it called when a child disowns his parents?
In family law cases, emancipation of a minor (also called "divorce from parents") refers to a court process through which a minor can become legally recognized as an independent adult.
How do you deal with rejection from a child?
The best advice I can offer is as follows:Ask your child what he or she needs from you in order to repair the relationship. ... Dont act on your feelings of defensiveness. ... Expect Respect. ... Dont idealize your children or your relationship with them. ... Grieve. ... Live one day at a time. ... Dont beg. ... Be empowered.