When you disagree with your spouse or partner, and you just can't figure out how to express your anger, displeasure or you just want to punish them for their wrongdoing without physical contact or aggression; one of the very common options people tend to go with is "Silent Treatment".
It is an act of ignoring every move, desire and nuance of your significant other, and make leave them wondering what is going on.
Silent treatment is an emotional torture, which is sometimes even more brutal than physical torture. I see it as an urban redefinition of Malice.
But why is it necessary between a couple?
Some people think it is the cheapest way to punish someone who has offended you, but you can't get a way to physically beat. Watching them suffer inner guilt gives some kind of pleasure.
"Sometimes, you do not need to physically punish people, just let their guilty conscience do the job. You will be free of transferred guilt." A friend opined.
Some other people do it out of exhaustion; knowing that their spouse hardly listens when they try to talk. So the silent treatment is a way to get their attention and make them listen.
For another set of people, they know they would still come around to talk about the problem, but in order to first stress the point of their anger, and fulfill their desire to see their spouse suffer for the misgiving, they will use the silent treatment first, before any solution to the problem is sought. Some even take it a notch higher by refusing to eat, others go to the peak by leaving home for a while and making their spouse wonder where they disappeared to.
How effective is silent treatment?
Some guys think it works very well in putting their significant other in check.
"She knows me na. When I ignore her, stop eating her food and leave the house for her, she will come back to her senses!" they say.
Some women also believe it helps them get the attention they need.
"I will first block him on all social media and refuse to pick his call for days. He will have to come looking for me!" they say.
For some couples, it is the only way to put themselves on a leash and avoid issues like domestic violence, loud fights, and unnecessary drama in the house.
"Silent treatment usually pushes for dialogue; the type that happens in the middle of the night, and comes from a place of one or both of you readily accepting responsibility for their errors."
Hmmmm....
Do you support silent treatment? Do you use it? How effective has it been for your relationship?
Let's discuss.
It sure has its side effects.