Fortunately, my wife and I have never pulled the silent treatment on each other: I guess we're both way too talkative for it. Also, we've now settled into an atmosphere of infrequent quarreling, so that type of thing is not any longer an issue between us the way it was when we were younger. Even when it does happen nowadays, it's usually the one of us who realizes that he or she was in the wrong who does the mature thing and apologizes.
My partner is gone so it's just me and my dog. Since the dog doesn't talk, the disagreements are all mine and I'm always the one that breaks the silence. But, I always blame little dog for the silent breaking of wind, along with his oft frequent, and awkward, "pawses."
Although human brain is made to flatter and shield ego, thankfully, we both own up our mistake as soon as one of us commits one...never can we indulge in silence treatment;))