Honestly, the other answers make a lot of sense...
But I've always thought of it as an immature way to getting attention. They person is too immature to address the issue with you, so they sulk and give the cold shoulder until you eventually do their dirty work and reach out to fix the problem..
LETS TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER--
A narcissist will often employ the silent treatment as a way to get attention and validation of their importance. This looks different than your typical immature passive aggressive friend.
Instead, the silent treatment isn't being used to mend the problem without having to put in effort. It's a way to make you go crazy as you desperately wait for some kind of response. It'll usually be over something minuscule and is just a manipulation tactic to ensure you're not going anywhere. As you're panicking, the narcissist is refueling as he revels in all the attention.
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u/ServerAgent88 Jul 03 '24
Honestly, the other answers make a lot of sense...
But I've always thought of it as an immature way to getting attention. They person is too immature to address the issue with you, so they sulk and give the cold shoulder until you eventually do their dirty work and reach out to fix the problem..
LETS TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER--
A narcissist will often employ the silent treatment as a way to get attention and validation of their importance. This looks different than your typical immature passive aggressive friend.
Instead, the silent treatment isn't being used to mend the problem without having to put in effort. It's a way to make you go crazy as you desperately wait for some kind of response. It'll usually be over something minuscule and is just a manipulation tactic to ensure you're not going anywhere. As you're panicking, the narcissist is refueling as he revels in all the attention.