Stonewalling is a communication behavior where a person refuses to communicate or cooperate, often in situations such as marriage guidance counseling, diplomatic negotiations, politics, legal cases, and relationships. It is a physiological response that can be thought of as a fight or flight response, and it is a defense mechanism for preserving ones self and emotions. Stonewalling can be seen as a refusal to answer or comment on certain questions about policy and issues, especially if the committee or politician in question is under investigation. It can also be seen as filibustering, or stalling the passage of bills until they become outdated or changed when engaging in parliamentary procedures. Key features of stonewalling include silence, mumbling monotone utterances, changing the subject, and physically removing oneself from the situation. Stonewalling can be harmful to relationships and can cause people to withdraw from the other person, which harms the relationship. Stonewalling is a learned behavior, and it is possible to learn healthier communication strategies to break the stonewalling patterns and improve relationships.