Relationships Spouses & Partners Marital Problems What Is Stonewalling? By Marni Feuerman, LCSW, LMFT Marni Feuerman, LCSW, LMFT Marni Feuerman is a psychotherapist in private practice who has been helping couples with marital issues for more than 27 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 08, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Carly Snyder, MD Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Signs Causes Types Impact What to Do Frequently Asked Questions Stonewalling involves refusing to communicate with another person and withdrawing from the conversation to create distance between the individual and their partner. Intentionally shutting down during an argument, also known as the silent treatment, can be hurtful, frustrating, and harmful to the relationship. Stonewalling is broadly described by the following behaviors: A general discomfort in discussing feelings Dismissing or minimizing the other person’s concerns Refusing to respond to questions Refusing to make eye contact or offer nonverbal communication cues Walking away from discussions that cause stress Stonewalling is rarely effective. And, if it becomes a habit, it can reduce a couple's ability to resolve conflicts or interact intimately. This article discusses how to recognize stonewalling, what causes this behavior, and the damaging effects it can have on relationships. It also covers some of the steps you can take if you are dealing with this issue. What to Do When Your Partner Is Upset But They Won't Tell You Why Signs of Stonewalling Many times, stonewalling in a relationship is obvious. However, it also can be subtle and you may not realize that you or your partner are engaging in the behavior. Signs of stonewalling can include: Ignoring what the other person is saying Changing the subject to avoid an uncomfortable topic Storming off without a word Coming up with reasons not to talk Refusing to answer questions Making accusations rather than talking about the current problem Using dismissive body language such as rolling or closing their eyes Engaging in passive-aggressive behaviors such as stalling or procrastinating to avoid talking about a problem Refusing to ever acknowledge the stonewalling behavior Recap Stonewalling is not always easy to recognize. Refusing to talk, avoiding conversations, ignoring the other person, and giving someone the silent treatment are a few signs of this behavior. Causes While stonewalling can be hurtful, you shouldn't necessarily assume that it is inherently ill-intended. At its very heart, stonewalling is often a behavior born out of fear, anxiety, and frustration. Some reasons a person may resort to stonewalling include: Generalized avoidance of conflict (emotional passivity) Desire to reduce tension in an emotionally-charged situation Genuine belief that they "cannot handle" a certain topic Fear of their partner’s reaction or where a talk may lead Belief that their partner has no desire to resolve the conflict Underlying hopelessness that a resolution cannot be found A means to establish themselves as neutral on the subject A way to view their partner as "emotional" or "unreasonable" A means to manipulate a situation so that they can get their way A means of bringing a situation to a crisis, either to draw larger grievances into the conflict or to end a relationship altogether Stonewalling is oftentimes a tactic learned during childhood. It may have been a behavior their parents used to "keep the peace" or to gain dominance in the family hierarchy. Even if the stonewalling appears intentional and aggressive, remember that it's often used by people who feel powerless or have low self-worth. Within this context, stonewalling may be a defensive mechanism used to compensate for these feelings. Research suggests that men are more likely to stonewall, due in part to societal roles that place women as communicators and dictate that men are "strong and silent." Healthy Coping Skills for Uncomfortable Emotions Types of Stonewalling There are a few different ways that stonewalling might appear in a relationship. These include: Unintentional stonewalling: Sometimes stonewalling is a learned response that partners use to cope with difficult or emotional issues. People who stonewall may do so to avoid escalating a fight or to avoid discussing an uncomfortable topic. They also might be afraid of their partner's reaction. Intentional stonewalling: In extreme cases, stonewalling is used to manipulate a situation, maintain control in the relationship, or inflict punishment. If you think your partner is verbally abusing you, speak with a counselor or therapist for advice. There are also healthy behaviors that can be mistaken for stonewalling. It's important to note that stonewalling is not the same thing as asking for space or setting boundaries. Asking for time or space requires communication. When your partner asks to discuss something later with the full intention of coming back to the conversation, they are not stonewalling you. If stonewalling is used to control, belittle, disrespect, or demean the other person, it may be a form of emotional abuse. In such cases, you should reach out to a mental health professional for help. Impact on Relationships Whatever the underlying cause, stonewalling can damage a relationship. Partners who are stonewalled often feel demeaned or abused. They may even begin to question their own self-worth. Moreover, shutting someone out often escalates the very situation it was meant to avert. It either forces a confrontation, or frustrations build to a point where regrettable things are said or done. Some researchers have suggested that stonewalling is a key predictor for divorce. Stonewalling behaviors signal an unwillingness to resolve problems central to sustaining the relationship. Other studies have shown that the behavior can have a direct physiological impact on both partners. A 2016 study, which followed 156 couples over a 15-year period, concluded that stonewalling was associated with acute musculoskeletal symptoms such as backaches, neck stiffness, and generalized muscle aches. By contrast, the stonewalled partner was more likely to experience cardiovascular symptoms such as increased blood pressure, tension headaches, and rapid heart rate. Overcoming Stonewalling If stonewalling occurs within your relationship, it's best to deal with it as a couple. Whether you are the stonewaller or the person being stonewalled, you cannot isolate stonewalling as the problem. Doing so only assigns blame and ends up diminishing the larger issues in the relationship. Because a relationship is unlikely to succeed without communication and collaboration, you need to find the right tools to "reprogram" old communication habits. This situation is one where couples counseling can help. Couples therapy is designed to help both partners understand why stonewalling is taking place. As a couple, you learn to identify behaviors or practices that lead to stonewalling. Get Help Now We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Find out which option is the best for you. Once those are identified, you can then be taught a more structured approach to communication. Here are some elements that might be included in the strategy: Accepting feedback and acknowledging wrong perceptions or mistakes Acknowledging what was said before launching into a reply Agreeing to postpone the conversation if things get contentious Being aware of body language while the other person speaks Expressing understanding of the situation and allowing each person to reply Decompressing before approaching a contentious topic Finding a safe space where neither partner feels cornered Setting a time to return to the conversation when things have settled Using words that are neutral rather than criticizing or accusing While it may take time to get used to these techniques, eventually they will become automatic. Then, you and your partner will be able to resolve situations rather than react to them. The Best Online Marriage Counseling Programs Summary Stonewalling involves avoiding conversations or refusing to talk to someone. For some people, it may be a coping mechanism to minimize or avoid conflict. Others may use this tactic intentionally to manipulate or control their partner. No matter the cause, it can have a detrimental impact on relationships. A Word From Verywell Stonewalling can have damaging effects on a relationship, but it is also something that individuals and couples can work to overcome. Couples counseling can be a great place to start. A counselor or therapist can help you learn to spot the signs of stonewalling and develop healthier, more productive ways of communicating. If your partner refuses to participate in counseling, you may still find it helpful to talk to a therapist. A mental health professional can help you learn to cope. If a resolution cannot be found, something such as a trial separation or even an end to the relationship may be necessary. Frequently Asked Questions Why does stonewalling damage relationships? Stonewalling is a negative and destructive way of communicating. It often causes people to withdraw from the other person, which harms the emotional intimacy in a relationship. As people withdraw, it creates a sense of distance and the people in the relationship may begin to grow apart. What does stonewalling feel like? For the person who is being stonewalled, it is normal to feel frustrated, angry, confused, and hurt. It can have a damaging impact on a person's self-esteem and make them feel like there is a lack of trust and closeness in their relationship. Is stonewalling a type of gaslighting? Stonewalling can be a form of gaslighting when it is used intentionally to make people question their reality. Gaslighting involves causing other people to doubt themselves and their experiences. Being ignored can leave you feeling powerless and useless. You might blame yourself or even doubt your own interpretation of the situation. Because of this self-doubt, people who are being stonewalled may feel weak or unable to get out of a toxic relationship. Is stonewalling abusive? Stonewalling can be abusive when the other person does it intentionally and uses it as a way to manipulate or control others. It can be a tactic to shift the blame for relationship problems onto the other person without taking any personal responsibility. 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fischer DJ, Fink BC. Clinical processes in behavioral couples therapy. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2014;51(1):11-4. doi:10.1037/a0033823 Gottman J, Levenson R. The timing of divorce: Predicting when a couple will divorce over a 14-year period. J Marriage Family. 2000;62:737-45. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.00737.x Haase CM, Holley SR, Bloch L, Verstaen A, Levenson RW. Interpersonal emotional behaviors and physical health: A 20-year longitudinal study of long-term married couples. Emotion. 2016;16(7):965-977. doi:10.1037/a0040239 See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for Relationships Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.