Clearly express when you feel overwhelmed, ignored, or unheard. If you're afraid to say “no,” start saying “I'll get back to you” and think about things before you provide an answer. Let your friends know that you have personal goals and dreams you are working towards.
The word for this is ostracism (exclusion, banishment). The psychology behind the silent treatment is that it can be a mind game for some people and, in some cases, can be used as a form of manipulation. Along with the emotional roller-coaster, it tears down your sense of self-esteem and sense of self-worth.
The phrase give someone the cold shoulder can be used when someone ignores a person in an unfriendly way. You can also use the verb cold-shoulder. I said hello to him and he just gave me the cold shoulder. She was cold-shouldered by her former friends.
The silent treatment, or stonewalling, is a passive-aggressive form of manipulation and can be considered emotional abuse. It is a way to control another person by withholding communication, refusing to talk, or ignoring the person.
While it can be harmless in certain circumstances, it can definitely be used to gain control over another person and make them feel unworthy and unimportant. Often, people choose to ignore because they don't know how to express their feelings properly.
You could probably list some obvious boundary violations, such as nonconsensual touch, name-calling, unsolicited advice, taking what's not given, and sharing confidential information without permission.
Most psychologists indicate that it depends on the situation. When silence, or, rather, the refusal to engage in a conversation, is used as a control tactic to exert power in a relationship, then it becomes "the silent treatment," which is toxic, unhealthy, and abusive.
Research finds that feeling ignored can affect people's sensory perceptions, such as feeling that surroundings seem quieter. Being ignored creates feelings of self-doubt, feeling a lack of control, and feeling not worthy of attention.
If they don't ask for your input in friendly discussions or show any curiosity about what you're thinking, it may mean they're trying to ignore you. They may try to skip over you when asking others about their day, avoid asking you how you feel about a decision, or even ignore you when you share your perspective.
Many people avoid others from whom they receive attention or compliments beyond friendly conversation because they are already in a romantic relationship. Others, however, are simply not interested in having one. Many people are perfectly content with their lives, family, and friends, without wanting more—from anyone.
People who push boundaries do it for numerous reasons. Some have low self-esteem or are self-serving. Some were raised that way, or are struggling to connect in a way they previously failed to. But for many, it's a simple lack of awareness, an inability to see what boundary they are pushing or how it is affecting you.
Boundary crossing often involved clinically effective interventions, such as self-disclosure, home visit, non-sexual touch, gifts or bartering. Dual relationships or Multiple Relationships in psychotherapy refers to any situation where multiple roles exist between a therapist and a client.
The four major types of boundary disputes are operational, allocational, locational, and definitional.
Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans, and deserts can all serve as physical boundaries.
These boundaries typically fall into a few specific categories: emotional (protecting our own emotional well-being) physical (protecting our physical space) sexual (protecting our needs and safety sexually)
I have found that the true power of ignoring someone who hurts or bothers you is that it sets you free from them, enabling you to pursue your own happiness. Freedom comes when you learn to let go. creation comes when you learn to say no. It all depends upon what type of situation exists.
In fact, some therapists call the silent treatment a form of gaslighting, used to cause personal uncertainty, and a sense of doubt when considering goals, self-views and worldviews.
When you're being ignored, do not get impulsive and make rash decisions. You might feel wronged and dejected, but it is best to keep your calm and avoid any overreaction in the heat of the moment. You must understand that ignorance is temporary, but what you say or do can scar you forever.