8 Communication Mistakes That Destroy a Relationship

Communication is the foundation of any relationship, allowing each person to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs. However, certain communication styles can be destructive and detrimental to your relationship. It is important to be aware of this to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and the destruction of trust between partners.

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Criticize the opponent

Criticism involves attacking or blaming the other person, however instead of addressing a specific behavior or issue it can be damaging, making your partner feel attacked and defensive, leading to conflict that escalates and becomes more serious. So avoid criticizing your partner to create distance to keep the relationship healthy.

Defensiveness

Defensiveness is a response to criticism in which a person attempts to justify his or her actions or blame rather than take responsibility resulting in impediments to effective communication and conflict resolution.

Contempt

Contempt involves showing disdain or disrespect for another person. It can be expressed through sarcasm, ridicule or insults and is particularly harmful to relationships, leading to resentment and hurt feelings.

Angry, ignoring communication

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Blocking occurs when one partner withdraws from the interaction, refusing to engage in communication, leaving the other feeling ignored, invalidated, and frustrated, increasing the conflict between the two, with no tendency to resolve it amicably...

Disable emotions

Invalidating a partner's emotions, including dismissing, minimizing, or ignoring their feelings, can make the partner feel unheard and unvalued, leading to resentment and distance in the relationship.

Mind Reading

Mind reading involves assuming you know what someone else is thinking, feeling or intending without actually asking them. It can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication, as no one can really know what another person is thinking so don't be too confident and arrogant when trying to read minds when communicating.

Recalling the past

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Bringing up past mistakes in arguments can be destructive because it prevents the resolution of current issues leading to feelings of resentment and hurt, even heartache...

Loud, shouting when communicating

Raising your voice when a conflict becomes more intense over time, often leading to yelling or even physical aggression (pinching, slapping, yelling at your partner, etc.). This can be damaging to both your partner and the relationship as a whole.

Therefore, destructive communication styles can damage trust, intimacy, and emotional connection in relationships. It is important to be aware of tact in communication. By practicing active listening, empathy, and respect for each other’s feelings, couples can cultivate a more positive and fulfilling relationship. Communication is not just about talking, it is about understanding, sympathizing, and understanding your partner so that they feel comfortable around each other.