Gottman

Question 1

Year

Answer 1

1998

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

Determine the role of positive factors on the maintenance or dissolution of married couples.

Test active listening model.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

130 couples
- recruited through news ads
- no kids, less than 6 months married

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

MAT - marital adjustment test (measure marital satisfaction)
(every year for 6 years)

Marital interaction assesment (recorded)
- sit quietly for 2 mins (baseline for physiological measures)
- discuss ongoing problem in relationship for 15 minutes
2 coders (coded certain behaviors) looked at
- facial expression
- vocal tone
- speech content
- active listening

After session
- each member of couple individually looked at recording
- rating of positive/negative affects using dial (9 pt scale)

Question 5

Results and conclusion

Answer 5

After 6 years
- 28 divorces
- both gender: high intensity negative affect predict divorce (belligerence, defensiveness, contempt)
- wife: low intensity negative affect predict divorce (whining, sadness, disgust, stonewalling

Supports that belligerence, defensiveness, contempt were destructive patterns during conflict (already knew from previous research)

Surprisingly
- active listening model did not predict positive outcomes
- rarely demonstrated in discussions
- not enough evidence to support the claim that it helps maintain marriage