INDIFFERENCE:

Indifference is one of the more extreme forms of disconfirmation. It includes physically ignoring the other person and the bid he or she has tried to make; nonverbally ignoring the other person; refusing to respond to the other person (the silent treatment)

Examples of indifference include the following:

• Not looking at the person.
• Pretending to be busy with some other task.

If Dr. White of the previous student/professor scenario wanted to disconfirm the student, Amy, she might use indifference:

Nonverbal Indifference: (Pretends she doesn’t see or hear Amy)

Verbal Indifference: (Picks up the phone and starts talking to a colleague while looking at Amy) "No, nothing’s going on."