Why Marriages Succeed or Fail

Published USA, 1994
Psychologist John Gottman has spent over thirty years studying what makes a marriage last. His book guides the reader through a series of self-tests designed to help them determine what kind of marriage they have, where their strengths and weaknesses are, and what specific actions they can take to help their marriage. Gottman maps out the downward spiral that begins in couples who are unable to find the equilibrium of a stable type of marriage. He also shows how strong differences between men and women in how they handle emotions can feed this process. Soon the destructive interactions he calls `The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse` take over - criticism, contempt, defensiveness and withdrawal - and Gottman offers specific steps that couples can take to resolve conflicts constructively and strengthen the positive side of their marriage.

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
More sex doesn't necessarily improve a marriage
Frequent arguing will not lead to divorce
Financial problems do not always spell trouble in a relationship
There's a reason husbands withdraw from arguments - and there's a way around it

John Gottman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Paperback. 234 pages