Toxic Relationship Pattern

Social Scientists have often studied the impact of negative behaviors on relationships including resentment and withdrawing from conflict. Researchers completed A Meta-Analytical Review of 74 studies and 14,000 participants and a Demand/Withdraw Pattern of Interaction and its Associations with Individual, Relational, and Communicative Outcomes. Their conclusions were that the “silent treatment” is part of one of the most common and most toxic patterns in any relationship. Psychologists tend to refer to it as a ‘demand-withdraw’ pattern. One partner/friend asks the other for something, or makes a critical observation or complaint. The other partner/friend then initiates the “silent treatment” that may last for hours, days, or even weeks. One person reported continued that silent-treatment pattern for two years. Two years! More tomorrow.