There are two forms of the no talk no tell rule.

1. EXTERNAL -- You are kept from talking or telling about something or someone by means of manipulation, coercion, threats, harm, harassments, violence, ect.. You believe or are made to believe that something negative (bad) will happen if you tell. "They" are relying on your fear, guilt, and or your other emotional reactions to suppress the "secrets" and "information". The no talk - no tell rule has as many forms, variations, methods,and manifestations, ect.. as there are people in the world.

2. INTERNAL -- It is very common for survivors of abuse to take on the no talk - no tell rule themselves. Their perpetrators may never actually say not to tell. But, the survivor consciously and subconsciously takes in all available information in their environment to evaluate if the no talk no tell rule must be enacted. The abuser may casually or covertly play on the survivors emotions, usually fear and guilt, and also the survivors basic needs. The survivor evaluates it and enacts the rule for their own safety, protection and welfare.

The survivor may even enact the rule to preserve a need being met. This DOES NOT imply that the survivor is at fault or should feel guilty. If the survivors basic human needs are being neglected within their environment it is very easy for a perp to play on it. The survivor may see their needs being met even if it is in a negative manner. Thus, they may not tell anyone that they are being abused because they fear that once again they will be deprived of that need.
(example: A child who is deprived of closeness, love , physical touch (hugs, gentleness, ect) will accept even a negative touch from an abuser and not tell because they fear (consciously or subconsciously) that if they tell, once again they will be deprived of that need. To the child's rationale even the negative is better than nothing. This DOES NOT mean the child wanted to be abused or even liked what was going on).

As survivors of any kind of abuse or violence we learn early on that silence provides a certain amount of safety. Yet, this is the illusion our perps want us to believe because it actually provides for their safety not ours. They hide behind our silence, they rely on our silence, they need our silence, they feed on our silence.

This is only a small bit about the "no talk - no tell" rule. As time goes on more will be added.