invalidationsstrategier

Invalidationsstrategier are a group of communication practices that aim to negate, minimize, or dismiss another person’s feelings, experiences, or identity. They can be deliberate or unintended and are observed in personal relationships, workplaces, education, and online interactions. In psychology and communication studies, these strategies are studied as behaviors that erode emotional safety and hinder open dialogue.

Common forms include dismissing or trivializing someone’s emotions (for example, saying “you’re overreacting” or “that’s not a big deal”), blaming the person for their feelings, criticizing the person’s character, correcting their interpretation of events, sarcasm or mockery, minimization of impact, and gaslighting—suggesting that the person is misremembering or overreacting. In some cases, invalidation is overt and explicit; in others it is more covert, such as changing the subject, reframing feelings as personal weakness, or repeatedly denying a person’s experience.

Contexts and consequences: Invalidating strategies can occur in family life, romantic partnerships, workplaces, and online communities. Repeated invalidation can reduce trust, cause emotional distress, lower self-esteem, and impede conflict resolution by signaling that the other person’s needs are not legitimate or safe to express. It can contribute to long-term problems with emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning.

Mitigation and response: Effective approaches include recognizing invalidation, validating the other person’s feelings (even if different viewpoints exist), using reflective listening, and setting boundaries when necessary. In therapeutic and educational settings, fostering validation while maintaining clear expectations can improve communication, reduce defensiveness, and support healthier interactions.