Gottman – Specific Affects

Gottman, J. M., Coan, S., Carrere, & Swanson, C. (1998). Predicting marital
        happiness and stability from newlywed interactions. Journal of Marriage
        and the Family, 60, 5-22.
Gottman – Specific Affects Coded Behaviors

5 Positive:	10 Negative:
Interest	*Hi-intensity*
Validation	Disgust
Affection	Belligerence
Joy	Contempt
Humor	Defensiveness
	Lo-intensity
	Whining
	Fear/tension
	Domineering / Stonewalling
	Sadness
	Anger

Affects that Predict divorce:

Criticism
Defensiveness
Contempt
Stonewalling
Belligerence

SPAFF Models that Predict Divorce:

Anger was not destructive
Contempt, belligerence, defensiveness, were
Active listening not predictive and very rare

Patterns that Predict Divorce:

Wife negative start up
Husband not accepting influence
Husband fails to de-escalate wife’s low intensity negative affect
Wife fails to de-escalate husband’s high intensity negative affect
Failure of husbands to respond soothing

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