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John Gottman - World-Renowned Industry Expert
John Gottman Quick Facts
Main Areas: Marriage; Relationships; Emotional DevelopmentBest Sellers: “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work”
Career Focus: Author; Lecturer; Executive Director of the Relationship Research Institute; Co-Founder of the Gottman Institute
Affiliation: The Gottman Institute; Relationship Research Institute; University of Washington
John Gottman, Ph.D., is recognized for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction, involving the study of emotions, physiology, and communication. He is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington, where he founded the Family Research Lab, also known as “The Love Lab.” He has earned several awards for his research on marriage and parenting, including four National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Awards.
Dr. Gottman has authored or co-authored 119 published academic articles and 37 books, including the New York Times bestseller, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. In it, he says there is more to a solid marriage than communicating and sharing every feeling and thought. The book is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.
He and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, founded the Gottman Institute, which helps couples directly and provides training to mental health professionals and health care providers. He is also the executive director of the nonprofit Relationship Research Institute. The Gottmans present couples workshops throughout the country.
Other Programs & Highlights
John Gottman has appeared on a number of TV programs, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, and the Today Show. He has also been featured in articles from such publications as The New York Times, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, and Reader’s Digest.
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from John Gottman
• In the last decade or so, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives. Researchers have found that even more than I.Q., your emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships.
• I liken an affair to the shattering of a Waterford crystal vase. You can glue it back together, but it will never be the same again.
• We have a group of very passionate, romantic couples. They sort of enjoy the bickering and the arguing…to them, it symbolizes real involvement and connection.
Getting Started With John Gottman
According to many relationship books, the key to a solid marriage is communication. Phooey, says John Gottman. He says there is much more to a solid, emotionally intelligent marriage than sharing every feeling and thought, though most therapists ineffectively and expensively harp on these concepts. In his book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, Dr. Gottman discusses his view on how to make for a successful marriage. I recommend it as the best place to start.
Dr. Gottman studied marriage by using rigorous scientific procedures to observe the habits of married couples. In the book, he shares the four not-so-obvious signs of a troubled relationship and includes a series of in-depth quizzes, checklists, and exercises similar to the ones found in his workshops. These are his seven principles for making marriage work:
• Maintain awareness of your partner’s world.
• Foster fondness and admiration.
• Turn toward instead of away.
• Accept your partner’s influence.
• Solve solvable conflicts.
• Cope with unresolvable conflicts.
• Create shared meaning.
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is a great book if you want to improve your marriage. Dr. Gottman also has an audio and video program for it.
Contacting John Gottman
ADDRESS: Relationship Research Institute
4000 NE 41st Street, Building G
Seattle, WA 98105
PHONE: 206-832-0300
WEBSITE: www.gottman.com
