Webthe silent treatment, also known as stonewalling, is when a listener withdraws from an interaction, refusing to participate or engage, essentially becoming. Webthe silent treatment can be a form of emotional abuse and blackmail and social isolation. It is destructive to a relationship. Learn the signs of the silent. Webthe silent treatment, a form of emotional withholding in relationships, often manifests as a refusal to communicate or engage. This behavior, while common, can. Webthe silent treatment encompasses any number of behaviors that involve intentionally ignoring or not speaking to someone, and it can be abusive.