Article: Assume that your friend or partner is not ignoring you to be malicious.  It’s likely your partner is ignoring you simply to avoid deepening and extending a conflict.  They probably want to get some breathing space and let you both cool down for a bit after a conflict.  When you understand your partner’s different understanding of the silent treatment, you will be in a better position to make up with them later and avoid deepening the conflict. When you’re ignored by someone you care about, it hurts.  You might feel frustrated, angry, and sad that you’re being ignored.  If you feel this way, don’t pretend that you don’t.  Accepting your feelings is the first step toward expressing yourself and letting the other party know they’re being unkind. Structured conversations are those which are schedules at a particular time for a particular purpose, and unfold with a particular set of rules which forbid things like yelling and name-calling.  In a structured conversation, both parties are prepared to confront the issue in front of them and have rehearsed their basic talking points.  Suggesting structured conversations can be useful if someone is ignoring you because of a longstanding problem or set of problems which prevents you from forging a deeper emotional connection. Try a different style of communication for yourself.  If you’re a “hot” conflict communicator -- constantly yelling, getting angry, and flaring up emotionally -- try to exercise more control in the heat of the moment.  If you’re a “cool” conflict communicator -- you ignore the other person, leave to give yourself space when a conflict occurs, and try to explain yourself and your point of view only after taking a few minutes to consider your response -- put more immediacy and emotion into your conflict resolution behavior (but don’t get carried away yelling and cursing). If you realize in the course of the person’s explanation that you’ve hurt their feelings, you should explain that you didn’t mean to and that you’re sorry.  But be firm when explaining that you feel hurt as well by the way they’ve been ignoring you.  Forgive the person who has been ignoring you and express your hope that they can find it within themselves to forgive you too, should you feel you need it. Sometimes it is hard to understand why people are upset by the things we do or say that seem innocuous.  If the other person has a weak or unintelligible reason for ignoring you, it’s nice to apologize nonetheless.

What is a summary?
Think about the problem as a difference in communication styles. Accept your feelings. Employ structured conversation. Stray outside your comfort zone. Exchange apologies as necessary.