Gottman also uses verbal observations to predict whether the couple "criticize or complain".Both of these sound argumentative but the main difference being the intention. While criticizing, the person's main aim is to make the other person feel inferior or bad whereas a complaint can be made politely, urging the other person to take the complaint sportingly and work for it.

Verbal cues

His predictions aren't based of the couple's sexuality, income, background, etc. rather he derives it from how the partners act and react. This includes things like tone of voice, body language, behavior, etc. factors which also includes physilogical factors such as heart rate.

How does he do that?

It may sound simple but a key component in building a relationship is attention.In a relationship, partners often share their personal feelings or mundane comments over silly things. They do it to start a conversation or to get attention. These comments or stories are called "bids" for attention. And how we react to these bids decides the future of a relationship

What to do to prevent breakups?

In 1990, Gottman started a research in which he studied how 130 couples reacted to each others' bids.After six years, he compared the couples who were still together versus the couples that got divorced.It turned out that the couples who were together reacted to each other's bids on an average of 86% of the times, on the other hand the divorced couple just responded for 33% of the times.

Gottman started a research

Well, you would be amazed to know that the author and relationship psychologist John Gottman can predict if a relationship would last with an accuracy rate of 94%.

Can you predict if a relationship will last?

Gottman writes down a time when her wife was grumbling. Taking that as a bid, he reacted to that bid and asked her what happened. She replied that she was tired folding the laundry clothes. As a reaction to this, he helped her by folding some clothes for her. This tells her how important she is to Gottman and how important her miseries are to him.He then played jazz music which reminded them of an old date in a jazz club. They then went for dinner together. And this is how accepting a small bid and reacting to it can create romantic moments for a couple and create an emotional bank for couples

Why are bids so important in a healthy romantic relationship?

Firstly, couples in fight or flight mode -- racing heartbeat, adrenaline rush, high blood pressure, etc. are more likely to split up. These people are always in a mode to either attack or be attacked.

Here are some signs that he has observed

Just as Masters and Johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, so Dr. John Gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. As a professor of psychology at the University of Washington and the founder and director of the Seattle Marital and Family Institute, he has studied the habits of married couples in unprecedented detail over the course of many years. His findings, and his heavily attended workshops, have already turned around thousands of faltering marriages. This book is the culmination of his life's work: the seven principles that guide couples on the path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward in their approach, yet profound in their effect, these principles teach partners new and startling strategies for making their marriage work. Gottman helps couples focus on each other, on paying attention to the small day-to-day moments that, strung together, make up the heart and soul of any relationship. Being thoughtful about ordinary matters provides spouses with a solid foundation for resolving conflict when it does occur and finding strategies for living with those issues that cannot be resolved. Packed with questionnaires and exercises whose effectiveness has been proven in Dr. Gottman's workshops, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the result of Dr. John Gottman's many years of closely observing thousands of marriages. This kind of longitudinal research has never been done before. Based on his findings, he has culled seven principles essential to the success of any marriage. Maintain a love map. Foster fondness and admiration. Turn toward instead of away. Accept influence. Solve solvable conflicts. Cope with conflicts you can't resolve. Create shared meaning. Dr. Gottman's unique questionnaires and exercises will guide couples on the road to revitalizing their marriage, or making a strong one even better.

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Just as Masters and Johnson were pioneers in the study of human sexuality, so Dr. John Gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. As a professor of psychology at the University of Washington and the founder and director of the Seattle Marital and Family Institute, he has studied the habits of married couples in unprecedented detail over the course of many years. His findings, and his heavily attended workshops, have already turned around thousands of faltering marriages.          This book is the culmination of his life's work: the seven principles that guide couples on the path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward in their approach, yet profound in their effect, these principles teach partners new and startling strategies for making their marriage work. Gottman helps couples focus on each other, on paying attention to the small day-to-day moments that, strung together, make up the heart and soul of any relationship. Being thoughtful about ordinary matters provides spouses with a solid foundation for resolving conflict when it does occur and finding strategies for living with those issues that cannot be resolved.          Packed with questionnaires and exercises whose effectiveness has been proven in Dr. Gottman's workshops, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the result of Dr. John Gottman's many years of closely observing thousands of marriages. This kind of longitudinal research has never been done before. Based on his findings, he has culled seven principles essential to the success of any marriage. Maintain a love map. Foster fondness and admiration. Turn toward instead of away. Accept influence. Solve solvable conflicts. Cope with conflicts you can't resolve. Create shared meaning. Dr. Gottman's unique questionnaires and exercises will guide couples on the road to revitalizing their marriage, or making a strong one even better.