Weaponizing Sulking
I observe that there are people close to us or not so close to us who utilize sulking as their ultimate weapon. They would negotiate to get what they want but if they cannot get what they want, they would go in silent and would not say a word to you. Their closeness to you is their bargaining power and eventually they can get their goal if we give in. This is sulking being utilized as weapon.
We are also afraid to confront the sulking persons for fear that we cannot sustain our "war" against them. We always want to be in good terms with them that's the reason that they can manipulate us by utilizing sulking. Millennials now are so adept in utilizing sulking that they would go depress if their demands are not met. They are like hold uppers who will keep us hostage.
Sulking only becomes effective because we allow them. The ones who are weaponizing sulking cannot do it to others whom they know they have no clout. They only utilize it to people whom they are close and they can bargain.
Are we going to allow sulking or tolerate it? It depends because the ones who do it have also connection with us. Sometimes we are also the ones who are doing it. We are also the ones who are hard to be understood.
To our primate relatives, there are also video clips where a baby is making mischief and goes away from the group but I think it's not sulking. It's an avoidance probably of punishment from the mother. To other animals like elephants, lions and others there are those who temporarily go away from the group but there is no definite study if that is sulking or simply avoidance of the group for their own self-interest for foods.
As long as human dominate the world, sulking will remain as it's weapon and part of his emotional blackmailing.