This is how 'dry begging' works, a behavior that can end relationships: "You can't read minds."

Relationships can go through many situations that need to be analyzed to prevent any kind of problems from arising. Poor communication, in many cases, often ends up causing various conflicts. It's important, for example, not to ask our partner for something in a passive-aggressive manner just because they feel pressured to do it.

This is what's known as dry begging, a behavior that occurs very frequently in many romantic relationships, and experts are now beginning to refer to this behavior as a silent threat. Specifically, the term refers to those moments when, instead of asking for things directly, people make requests in a different way, hinting at needs without clearly verbalizing them.

This refers to phrases like "I guess it's my turn to do the laundry again" or "Most people would be happy to have someone do that for them." This is reflected in a recent New York Post article about this behavior.

As therapist Darren Magee explains, dry begging is a behavior that works by "exploiting emotional or social cues without making a direct request." The goal is to generate a "sense of obligation to others," since by engaging in this type of behavior, we are appealing to the other person's guilt.

However, these types of phrases aren't always used with malicious intent, as they are often used simply out of fear that asking things directly will result in a direct rejection. Despite all this, Magee warns that it can become a tool of manipulation. In fact, it's quite common for narcissistic people to resort to it.

"Narcissists often have a fragile self-image and avoid asking for help directly so as not to appear vulnerable or dependent . Dry begging allows them to maintain their sense of superiority without showing weakness," the expert says.

As experts point out, the main problem that leads to this behavior is that couples fail to develop clear and direct communication , which generally leads to misunderstandings and accumulated resentment. Ultimately, it can even lead to the breakup of the couple.

How to avoid this type of behavior

As Magee explains, if we want to prevent this from happening , the key is to identify whether this pattern actually exists in the relationship and analyze how consistently it occurs—that is, whether it's repeated over and over again. Thus, the expert clarifies that if one of the partners feels they have to constantly interpret innuendos in their relationship, it may be time to talk about it.

In this scenario, psychologists recommend maintaining a calm and honest conversation about each other's feelings, avoiding blame, and setting boundaries that are healthy for both partners. The key, they say, is to express needs directly and without resorting to emotional games.

"You can't read minds," Magee emphasizes, stressing that trying to get the other person to guess what you need is not only unfair, but can also erode the bond. Thus, as she explains, the healthiest couples are not those who don't argue, but those who communicate honestly, respectfully, and clearly.