What is the danger of stonewalling in a marriage?

• A. It improves problem-solving skills.
• B. It eliminates conflicts.
• C. It increases romance.
• D. Stonewalling can lead to emotional disengagement and is a significant predictor of marital distress.

Answer: (D)

Stonewalling is a withdrawal during disagreement, where one partner shuts down and stops engaging. The danger lies in the emotional disconnect that follows: when one person pulls away, the other can feel unheard and unvalued, which erodes trust, warmth, and intimacy. Over time this pattern reduces connection and makes it harder to repair problems, often predicting greater marital distress or even future separation. The other options don’t fit because stonewalling doesn’t help solve problems, eliminate conflicts, or boost romance; in fact, it diminishes closeness and makes issues harder to address.