Stonewalling in Gottman theory refers to which behavior?

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Stonewalling is withdrawing from the interaction during conflict. When one partner feels overwhelmed, they shut down and disengage—physically turning away, avoiding eye contact, or even leaving the room—to escape the conversation. This withdrawal stops any productive dialogue or problem solving and often increases distance between partners. It’s different from interrupting (which involves still engaging with the other person), from ignoring specific requests (which is about not meeting a demand but not necessarily withdrawing), or from offering reassurance (which is an attempt to calm and reconnect). So the behavior described—pulling back from the interaction—is the best match for stonewalling.