Suara Mahasiswa 
Ilustrasi pasangan yang tengah mengalami konflik komunikasi dalam hubungan, yang ditunjukkan melalui perilaku silent treatment. (Ilustrasi: Linda Puji Yanti/SM).
Oleh: Rizky Eka Nurafni
A few days ago, my friend shared their experience of being suddenly ignored by their partner after a minor disagreement. Without any explanation, the silence continued for days, leaving them confused and emotionally distant.
This behavior is commonly known as silent treatment. It is a form of behavior characterized by withdrawal and the avoidance of direct confrontation. In this context, silent treatment may also be understood as a form of social exclusion.
From the perspective of Clinical Psychology, silent treatment can be explained through the concept of maladaptive coping. Maladaptive coping refers to ineffective ways of managing stress that may worsen an individual’s psychological well-being. One example is withdrawal behavior, which involves avoiding problems rather than addressing them. This view is supported by Suparna and Wijaya, who found that silent treatment is common in interpersonal communication among Generation Z.
Furthermore, silent treatment appears to be quite common in dating relationships, especially among young adults. A study conducted by Lestari and her colleagues, involving 407 participants, found that many couples have experienced this behavior.
Given how common silent treatment is, researchers have also examined whether gender plays a role in this behavior. Some studies have shown that women tend to engage in silent treatment more often than men (Falbo & Peplau). However, other studies have found no significant gender differences. Nevertheless, these findings suggest that silent treatment is not limited to a particular gender and can occur in various types of relationships.
One possible explanation for the higher prevalence among women in certain studies is that women tend to rely more on nonverbal communication. In addition, they are often better at interpreting nonverbal cues than men (Prinsen & Punyanunt-Carter).
Some individuals may believe that silent treatment helps them calm down during conflict. While taking a short break may reduce tension, completely ignoring a partner without explanation can lead to emotional distress and make the issue more difficult to resolve.
Rather than relying on silent treatment, individuals should adopt adaptive coping strategies that emphasize healthier ways of dealing with both problems and emotions. For example, they can actively address the root of a conflict by engaging in open discussion, clearing up misunderstandings, and working together to find solutions.
In addition, emotion-focused coping can involve taking a brief pause to calm down while clearly communicating that need to a partner. For instance, saying, “I need some time to settle down. We can talk later,” allows emotions to stabilize without causing confusion or unnecessary hurt feelings.
By practicing these adaptive coping strategies, individuals can move away from avoidance and toward more constructive communication. As a result, relationships become more resilient, trust is strengthened, and both partners are more likely to feel emotionally secure.
Ultimately, silent treatment should not be viewed as merely a simple response to conflict, but rather as a harmful communication pattern associated with maladaptive coping. If it continues, silent treatment can harm not only others but also the individual who relies on it.
Penulis merupakan mahasiswa Fakultas Psikologi dan Pendidikan, Universitas Harkat Negeri.
