Walking on the edge of contempt four predictors of marriage failure.

Walking on the edge of contempt four predictors of marriage failure.

Walking on the edge of contempt four predictors of marriage failure., Last Modified, 2017-05-08

In his book “blink” The Power of Thinking without Thinking, Author Malcolm Gladwell takes us on a journey into the fascinating subject of short-term intuition and understanding better why we can unconsciously make accurate predictions in seconds that might otherwise require thousands of hours of analysis and study.

One fascinating example he gives is in the case of predicting with over 97% accuracy which couples will break up, after watching short video interactions filmed under experimental conditions.

Gladwell’s book cites the work of psychologist John Gottman and his experimental research with couples which recorded thousands of short interactions.

Because of undertaking this work Gottman became increasingly adept at predicting with amazing accuracy which couples would be together after 15 years and which would break up. His research and analysis methodology involved capturing about 20 critical data points during interactions, measuring such things as anger and contempt, the latter he believes is being the single most significant indicator of marital breakdown.

By adding a numerical quotient to each, he could effectively score the quality of the relationship within just a few short minutes. Subtle indicators give away the couple’s emotions and feelings towards each other. His tests required consenting couples to have short fifteen-minute conversations or debates about something contentious in their relationship. The conversations and body language were recorded, sensors placed on the fingers, face and arms measured pulse rate, breathing, sweat levels etc... and could capture tension and stress.

This data from the interactions was analysed and charted and interpreted a bit like a signature. He maintained that couple interactions are as unique as a signature and can be cyphered a little like the morse code transcriptions were during the second world war.

He looked at patterns which he believes give subtle yet probabilistically significant cues as to the likely outcome of the couple’s relationship.

He became so adept at interpreting these signals that just by overhearing a few minutes of conversation in a restaurant he claimed that he could deduce success or failure in a marriage.

All interactions do have a mix of both positive and negative signals, yet to help us understand the nature of them we have divided these into groups. More Walking on the edge of contempt four predictors of marriage failure..

What do you think? Pseudoscience or real? Leave a comment and let us know.

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