The Effects of the Silent Treatment
The silent treatment, where one ignores or ostracizes another in a relationship, is more than just not talking. It is a form of abuse that can lead to severe emotional problems for those on the receiving end.
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Significance
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The silent treatment is damaging to emotional health. According to clinical psychologist Linda Roberts of the University of Wisconsin, it can be just as harmful as pure anger.
Function
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Feelings of ostracism from the silent treatment cause the brain's anterior cingulate cortex to detect pain. Sufferers report feelings of unworthiness, not belonging, loss of control and low self-esteem.
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Considerations
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According to Kipling Williams, professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University, most people who are given the silent treatment nowadays don't have a support network of friends and family to turn to to deal with the pain.
Effects
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The silent treatment affects perception, physiological conditions, behavior and attitudes, all of which can lead to aggression. According to a study at Macquarie University in Australia, ostracized people respond aggressively when they feel that they lack control in the situation.
Types
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Men and women deal differently with the silent treatment. Women work hard to win back the attention of abusers, while men do not.
Potential
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People and animals use the silent treatment as a form of control. Families often use "time-outs" to teach children lessons. Certain animals, like lions and wolves, ostracize the weakest link to increase a group's chances of survival.
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