Understanding Conflict in Relationships

This chapter examines the role of conflict in romantic relationships, asserting that fighting can be beneficial if approached healthily. Drawing from research at the Gottman Institute, it categorizes couples into three distinct fighting styles and introduces the concept of the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' that mark detrimental behaviors leading to relationship strain. The chapter encourages couples to maintain a positive to negative response ratio during conflicts and emphasizes the importance of managing emotions to foster healthier communication.