The Science of Couples and Family Therapy: Behind the Scenes at the "Love Lab"

by John M. Gottman Ph.D., Julie Schwartz Gottman

Overview

John and Julie Gottman, world-renowned for bringing an evidence base to couples therapy, report here the results of a second empirical revolution in understanding couples and families. This change is not based on their guesswork, but on state-of-the-art science. This book finally completes the old general systems theory of the 1960s, which metaphorically described processes but did not actually research them.

A new general systems theory and therapy is presented here, one which will have profound implications for powerful clinical work with both couples and families. This new theory is based on 45 years of careful basic scientific research with thousands of couples and families, including synchronized observational, interview, physiological, and questionnaire data.

The Gottmans have studied some families for as long as 20 consecutive years. Their work has led to their highly replicated ability to precisely predict the future of relationships, relationship happiness, and whether couples will divorce or not with as much as 94% accuracy. Their empirical work has also led them to develop and test a theory of specifically what makes relationships work. Each construct in this theory is precise and measurable and it is all written about and described here.

This book presents an original new way of understanding relationships and families. Both theoretical and highly practical, and it will help clinicians become more effective in their everyday work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393712742
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

John M. Gottman, PhD, is the cofounder of The Gottman Institute and of Affective Software, Inc., and was recently honored with 2021 Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Psychotherapy Networker. He resides on Orcas Island, Washington.

Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, is the cofounder of The Gottman Institute and of Affective Software, Inc., and was recently honored with 2021 Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Psychotherapy Networker. She resides on Orcas Island, Washington.

Table of Contents

Preface: A Call For A New 4SD Systems Therapy ix

Chapter 1 The Old General Systems Theory and the Old Family Therapy 1

Chapter 2 What Might Be Regulated in Family Homeostasis? 12

Chapter 3 What Is Trust? 20

Chapter 4 What Is Commitment? What Is Betrayal? 39

Chapter 5 A Good Theory Needs Data 63

Chapter 6 So, What's a Relationship? 68

Chapter 7 Flooding and Physiological Calm 85

Chapter 8 Change 96

Chapter 9 The Demand-Withdraw Pattern 131

Chapter 10 Our Mighty Theory: The Sound Relationship House 144

Chapter 11 What's Behind Demand-Withdraw: Meta-emotion Mismatch 177

Chapter 12 The Power of Turning Toward 201

Chapter 13 Examining Relationship Stability 219

Chapter 14 Enter the Baby 227

Chapter 15 The Family as the Baby Develops 250

Chapter 16 Summary of Our Family Systems Therapy 278

Appendix 1 How Children Become Friends 282

Appendix 2 Six Math Sidebars 293

Appendix 3 Simulation Sidebar 305

References 308

Index 319

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a tour de force in our field, combining powerful theoretical and mathematical insights with eminently practical clinical strategies. All delivered in lively and often personal writing. Only John and Julie Gottman could have pulled this off."

William Doherty

"John and Julie Gottman’s book is an amazing intellectual and stylistic achievement. It integrates all their previous work, intriguingly, by endowing with new meaning the concept out of which family therapy originated: homeostasis. John has been able to transfer his charismatic speaking style—the wit and pizazz—to the printed page as he and Julie recount the twists and turns of their discoveries."

Daniel Wile

"Drawing on a wealth of research imbued with powerful theoretical insights, John and Julie Gottman’s book is an intellectual achievement sure to affect profound changes in many couples’ lives, and without fail, change the way we live, love, and create families."

Psych Central

"Couples therapists must read this fascinating book! A wealth of science linked to practice in a fun, readable way and the engrossing history of the Love Lab come together to make ANOTHER memorable contribution to the couples literature from the Gottman team."

Sue Johnson