What Predicts Divorce

In its original volume, first published in 1993, John Gottman details years of research involving questionnaires and observations of married couples in pursuit of the determinants of both marital happiness and divorce. Grounded in science and informed by clinical practice, it offers psychological professional insight and awareness of what healthy relationships need. With a new preface by the Gottman Institute Clinical Director, Dr Don Cole, and Research Director, Dr Carrie Cole, this Classic Edition of the landmark text, What Predicts Divorce?, reveals to a new generation, the original context of Gottman’s work, how he has further developed his research and thinking, and the ongoing relevance of this volume in the context of future challenges for the field. Providing a roadmap that gives shape to the science yet to be done, this Classic Edition of What Predicts Divorce? is essential reading for all family and clinical psychologists, as well as therapists working with couples in relationship counselling.

Divorce rates are at an all-time high. But without a theoretical understanding of the processes related to marital stability and dissolution, it is difficult to design and evaluate new marriage interventions. The Mathematics of Marriage provides the foundation for a scientific theory of marital relations. The book does not rely on metaphors, but develops and applies a mathematical model using difference equations. The work is the fulfillment of the goal to build a mathematical framework for the general system theory of families first suggested by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy in the 1960s.The book also presents a complete introduction to the mathematics involved in theory building and testing, and details the development of experiments and models. In one "marriage experiment," for example, the authors explored the effects of lowering or raising a couple's heart rates. Armed with their mathematical model, they were able to do real experiments to determine which processes were affected by their interventions. Applying ideas such as phase space, null clines, influence functions, inertia, and uninfluenced and influenced stable steady states (attractors), the authors show how other researchers can use the methods to weigh their own data with positive and negative weights. While the focus is on modeling marriage, the techniques can be applied to other types of psychological phenomena as well.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Over a million copies sold! “An eminently practical guide to an emotionally intelligent—and long-lasting—marriage.”—Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work has revolutionized the way we understand, repair, and strengthen marriages. John Gottman’s unprecedented study of couples over a period of years has allowed him to observe the habits that can make—and break—a marriage. Here is the culmination of that work: the seven principles that guide couples on a path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward yet profound, these principles teach partners new approaches for resolving conflicts, creating new common ground, and achieving greater levels of intimacy. Gottman offers strategies and resources to help couples collaborate more effectively to resolve any problem, whether dealing with issues related to sex, money, religion, work, family, or anything else. Packed with new exercises and the latest research out of the esteemed Gottman Institute, this revised edition of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.

This book presents the measures from the Gottman laboratory that were used in the book What Predicts Divorce?Developed and applied over a period of the past 15 years, these materials have demonstrated reasonably high reliability and validity. They are: * The Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) An observational coding system for measuring emotional behavior in couples, the SPAFF's codes go beyond the more simple positive/negative/neutral affects of the past and classify the couple's specific emotions -- anger, sadness, contempt, interest, affection, validation, excitement-joy. There are two versions of the SPAFF -- one employing 10 codes, the other 16. Each version has appropriate training and test videotapes. * The Rapid Couples Interaction Coding System (RCISS) In using the RCISS (pronounced "R-KISS"), which codes problem-solving, at every turn of speech the observer chooses items from a set of menus. There are menus for the presentation of a problem, for the response to the presentation of a problem, for emotional maintenance, for problem-solving, and for listener behavior. In addition to the manual for the RCISS, there is a training and test videotapeand a set of computer programswritten by Donald Goldstein. The computer programs are for data entry and data analysis. * The Buehlman Oral History Coding System The Oral History Interview codes the couple's behavior during the oral history interview. It asks couples about the history of their marriage, their philosophy of marriage, how their marriage differs from their parents' marriages, and more. The Buehlman Coding System has predicted divorce and marital stability with 94% accuracy. Also, it is significantly correlated with marital interaction and with physiology during conflict resolutions. Finally, it is a useful clinical interview that can be used on intake. * The Play-by-Play Interview This interview procedure, which has been used for the past 22 years, sets up the conflict resolution conversation -- a discussion that must be grounded and not abstract. The play-by-play interview maximizes the possibility that couples will be talking about a real area of continuing disagreement in their marriage. * The five questionnaires from the Distance and Isolation Cascade. Correlated with the process cascades toward divorce, these questionnaires assess: 1. the couple's perception of the severity of their marital problems; 2. the perception that it makes no sense to try and work these problems out with the spouse; 3. "flooding" or feeling overwhelmed and disorganized by a partner's expressions of negative emotions; 4. parallel lives as the way the marriage works; and, 5. loneliness in the marriage.

This book details years of research involving questionnaires and observations of married couples in pursuit of the determinants of both marital happiness and divorce. It will be of interest to family and clinical psychologists and methodologists.

In its original volume, first published in 1993, John Gottman details years of research involving questionnaires and observations of married couples in pursuit of the determinants of both marital happiness and divorce. Grounded in science and informed by clinical practice, it offers psychological professional insight and awareness of what healthy relationships need. With a new preface by the Gottman Institute Clinical Director, Dr Don Cole, and Research Director, Dr Carrie Cole, this Classic Edition of the landmark text, What Predicts Divorce?, reveals to a new generation, the original context of Gottman’s work, how he has further developed his research and thinking, and the ongoing relevance of this volume in the context of future challenges for the field. Providing a roadmap that gives shape to the science yet to be done, this Classic Edition of What Predicts Divorce? is essential reading for all family and clinical psychologists, as well as therapists working with couples in relationship counselling.

This book presents the measures from the Gottman laboratory that were used in the book What Predicts Divorce?Developed and applied over a period of the past 15 years, these materials have demonstrated reasonably high reliability and validity. They are: * The Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) An observational coding system for measuring emotional behavior in couples, the SPAFF's codes go beyond the more simple positive/negative/neutral affects of the past and classify the couple's specific emotions -- anger, sadness, contempt, interest, affection, validation, excitement-joy. There are two versions of the SPAFF -- one employing 10 codes, the other 16. Each version has appropriate training and test videotapes. * The Rapid Couples Interaction Coding System (RCISS) In using the RCISS (pronounced "R-KISS"), which codes problem-solving, at every turn of speech the observer chooses items from a set of menus. There are menus for the presentation of a problem, for the response to the presentation of a problem, for emotional maintenance, for problem-solving, and for listener behavior. In addition to the manual for the RCISS, there is a training and test videotapeand a set of computer programswritten by Donald Goldstein. The computer programs are for data entry and data analysis. * The Buehlman Oral History Coding System The Oral History Interview codes the couple's behavior during the oral history interview. It asks couples about the history of their marriage, their philosophy of marriage, how their marriage differs from their parents' marriages, and more. The Buehlman Coding System has predicted divorce and marital stability with 94% accuracy. Also, it is significantly correlated with marital interaction and with physiology during conflict resolutions. Finally, it is a useful clinical interview that can be used on intake. * The Play-by-Play Interview This interview procedure, which has been used for the past 22 years, sets up the conflict resolution conversation -- a discussion that must be grounded and not abstract. The play-by-play interview maximizes the possibility that couples will be talking about a real area of continuing disagreement in their marriage. * The five questionnaires from the Distance and Isolation Cascade. Correlated with the process cascades toward divorce, these questionnaires assess: 1. the couple's perception of the severity of their marital problems; 2. the perception that it makes no sense to try and work these problems out with the spouse; 3. "flooding" or feeling overwhelmed and disorganized by a partner's expressions of negative emotions; 4. parallel lives as the way the marriage works; and, 5. loneliness in the marriage.

One of the New York Times' most popular journalists presents groundbreaking scientific news about marriage. And, surprise: It's good news. We've all heard the statistic: Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. It's enough to make many couples give up when the going gets rough, thinking that's what everybody else does. But what if it weren't true? What if, in fact, it's not only possible but often easier than you think to save a seemingly troubled relationship? These are the questions Tara Parker-Pope asked herself after her own divorce. An investigative journalist on the health and wellness beat, she turned to some of the top biologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and other scientists for the facts about marriage and divorce. Those facts were more positive and provocative than she'd ever expected, and For Better offers page after page of astonishing, eye-opening good news. Parker-Pope presents the science behind why some marriages work and others don't; the biology behind why some spouses cheat and others remain faithful; the best diagnostic tools created by the most cutting-edge psychologists to assess the probability of success in getting married, staying married, or remarrying. There are questionnaires to uncover potentially damaging hidden attitudes toward spouses. There are tools to show the impact of routine, fresh activity and how small adjustments can make a huge difference. Tara Parker- Pope's genius is for exploring the science behind the big issues that affect our lives every day and translating that science into advice that we can use-every day. For Better is the definitive guide to the most profound relationship of our lives.