The silent treatment is often given as a form of punishment in a relationship and psychologists consider the silent treatment as a form of abuse. The silent treatment is abuse because: 1. It is passive-aggressive behavior intended to hurt the other person. It shows a lack of caring, a lack of respect and a lack of value.
Full Answer
Is silent treatment actually a form of abuse?
Jun 08, 2020 · The silent treatment is a refusal to communicate verbally with another person. People who use the silent treatment may even refuse to acknowledge the presence of the other person. People use the...
Why do abusers give the silent treatment?
Mar 24, 2022 · Silent treatment abuse is a form of emotional abuse in which a person refuses to communicate with you in order to control or influence your behaviors. Taking time to cool down after an argument is healthy, but shutting off communication for a long time, especially in order to control another person, is a form of abuse. A Word From Verywell
Is the silent treatment a form of bullying?
Apr 12, 2022 · WHY THE SILENT TREATMENT IS A FORM OF ABUSE Refusing to talk to someone can be used as a way to control or punish them. Experts say it can cause psychological harm, especially to children ... The silent treatment can damage relationships, sometimes irreparably. When it becomes part of a pattern of behaviour, Wright says it can be abusive ...
What does the abuser gain from silent treatment?
Sep 08, 2020 · Many abuse survivors say they hated the silent treatment more than the insults or yelling. When they were shouted at, at least they knew what was on the abuser’s mind, and could better assess their...
Why is the silent treatment so damaging?
Findings from his in-depth analysis revealed that the silent treatment is 'tremendously' damaging to a relationship. It decreases relationship satisfaction for both partners, diminishes feelings of intimacy, and reduces the capacity to communicate in a way that's healthy and meaningful.
Is the silent treatment cruel?
The silent treatment can be deliberate and enacted with some pleasure and cruelty, which is why it is named as an aspect of abusive relationships, and a form of domestic violence. While some people might think that being silent is taking the high road, it can actually be the worst thing you can do.
Is the silent treatment a form of manipulation?
The silent treatment is widely regarded as a form of emotional manipulation and even psychological abuse. It is the act of ceasing to initiate or respond to communication with someone else or refusing to acknowledge them altogether.Nov 27, 2018
What the silent treatment does to someone?
Using the silent treatment prevents people from resolving their conflicts in a helpful way. When one partner wants to talk about a problem but the other withdraws, it can cause negative emotions such as anger and distress.Jun 8, 2020
Why is silence so powerful?
Being silent allows us to channel our energies. It gives us the clarity we need to calmly face challenges and uncertainty. The hour of silence I practice each morning, and encourage you to practice as well, can be a time for collecting our thoughts, training our minds, and deciding how we want to enter into the day.Jul 22, 2021
Is giving the silent treatment immature?
At best the silent treatment isan immature behavior used by spoiled brats and manipulativeindividuals. At worst, it is a weapon used by abusers to punish their victims.Jul 11, 2016
How do you outsmart a narcissist silent treatment?
You've changed your behavior to avoid getting the silent treatment.Take a gentle approach: Make it about them. ... Or, make it about you. ... Ignore it until it blows over. ... Offer solutions. ... Stand up for yourself.Apr 30, 2019
Why do narcissists give silent treatment?
The Purpose of the Silent Treatment Essentially, the point of the silent treatment is to make the victim feel confused, stressed, guilty, ashamed, not good enough, or unstable enough so that they would do what the manipulator wants.Mar 12, 2020
Is ignoring someone a form of emotional abuse?
In fact, it qualifies as abuse: Just because you are not using your hands doesn't mean you can't irreparably hurt someone else. Ignoring someone is also not a strategy, it's just a flat out disregard for someone else's feelings.Mar 3, 2022
Why is silence the best revenge?
Silence speaks volumes Believe it, the silence and zero reaction really bothers your ex, and they consider it as the best served revenge. Nothing creates more curiosity than silence. Your ex would expect a vent or an angry rant from you, but don't give in. If you do, you are meeting their expectations.Sep 9, 2019
How to respond to silent treatment?
Responding to the Silent Treatment. If you or someone you care about is being subject to the silent treatment, the following steps may help: Avoid becoming isolated: Maintaining relationships with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers will make it easier for you to weather the storm of your partner’s moods.
How to stay strong in a relationship with an abusive partner?
Maintain a rich inner life: Engaging in hobbies, reading, and art projects can help you stay strong and stable while facing silent hostility from your partner. Remember yourself: One of the problems with being in a relationship with an abusive and controlling partner is that it can be difficult to remember who you are.
Why did Reggie explode in anger?
She knew that Reggie was deliberately trying to make her feel bad. Reggie often exploded in anger following a period of silence. Sara said that the hostile withholding made her extremely anxious; she redoubled her efforts to make Reggie feel better, silencing her own needs and desires.
What does it mean to take a time out?
Done properly, the person will ask if it is okay to take a time-out, and then will go for a walk, exercise, meditate, or read a book, for example, so they can return to the conversation in a calmer and more productive way. Taking a time-out should lead to improved communication and collaboration, whereas the silent treatment is an assertion ...
Why was Sara's husband angry?
Sara knew when her husband, Reggie, was angry because he would put on “a serious face” that communicated to her that she should be especially submissive and not approach him. He spoke to her without smiling and with a cold, impersonal tone. She knew that Reggie was deliberately trying to make her feel bad.
How did Nina cope with Ray's silence?
Over the years, Nina learned to cope with Ray's cruel silences, continuing to prepare his meals and wash and fold his clothes even as he ignored her for long periods. The silent treatment usually ended with Ray grabbing at Nina brusquely for sex at night. The next morning, he acted as if the break in their relationship had never happened ...
Why do people cut off their spouses?
Many people cut off their partners emotionally to hurt, punish, or manipulate them. Some people even refuse to acknowledge their partners’ existence for hours, days, or weeks on end, making the partners feel as if they are somehow less than human, like a ghost: Nina could never tell what would set off her husband, Ray, ...
