The Silent Treatment | Withdrawal, Punishment, and Control episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 11, 2026 · 52 MIN

The Silent Treatment | Withdrawal, Punishment, and Control

from Conversations with Dr. Jennifer · host Dr. Finlayson-Fife's Podcast Archive

Sometimes a partner goes quiet because they're overwhelmed and trying to find their footing in the conversation. Other times, silence is a strategy, a way to make a spouse squirm and bend until the relationship settles back into its old, immature rhythm. There's a real difference between going quiet in conflict and the silent treatment, and knowing which one you're up against changes how you respond.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 11, 2026

Embed this episode

Sometimes a partner goes quiet because they're overwhelmed and trying to find their footing in the conversation. Other times, silence is a strategy, a way to make a spouse squirm and bend until the relationship settles back into its old, immature rhythm. There's a real difference between going quiet in conflict and the silent treatment, and knowing which one you're up against changes how you respond. In this episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife uses listener questions to unpack the difference between disengaging to self-regulate and using silence to punish, and what it looks like to stay grounded and invested when a spouse disengages. **SAVE $200 on the Strengthening Your Relationship Retreat in Lehi, UT!**

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

The Silent Treatment | Withdrawal, Punishment, and Control

0:00 52:01

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Conversations with Dr. Jennifer?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this Conversations with Dr. Jennifer episode published?

This episode was published on August 11, 2026.

Can I download this Conversations with Dr. Jennifer episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!