A study from Northwestern University that is scheduled to be published later this year in “Psychological Science” shows that it may be possible to maintain a healthy marriage with just a pencil, paper, and 21 minutes to spare. Over the course of two years, the study asked 120 married couples about their satisfaction with their […]

It can be amazing looking back at the moments right before marriage, especially as you’re preparing to sign divorce papers. Before giving up on a marriage completely, there are some marriage tips to consider that may be able to salvage the situation and bring the happiness back. The first tip is to try to let

According to Dr. Daniel B. Wile, the problem with the rules of good communication is that you can’t use them while you’re angry, which, unfortunately, is exactly when you need to use them most. The reason you can’t use them while you’re angry is that they directly contradict anger, telling you not to be angry

Empathy, highlighted by caring about the feelings and concerns of others, finds its opposite in contempt, which is marked by a disregard or denigration for others’ concerns. According to another article based on the research of Dr. John Gottman, contempt is the number one predictor of divorce. In this response, Dr. Susan Heitler explores why

Dr. Susan Heitler has attempted in this article to explain relationships with the use of the “paper, stone, scissors” game (or whichever variation you may know). The idea is to relate where positivity fits into a relationship with anger management and skills for effective communication. Dr. Heitler suggests that not one of those things is

If your relationship seems bogged down with snapping that leads to petty fights, it may be time for a relationship makeover. The relationship makeover is a seven point challenge over the course of a week designed to improve relationships. It isn’t supposed to feel natural or easy and results may not be immediate. Robert Taibbi,

There are many little things that couples do regularly that actually damage their relationship. Because they are small, their adverse affects may not be immediately noticeable, but many small things over a long period of time can still lead to big problems. The good news is that this behavior can be corrected. The first small

When one patient stated that he had no interest in working to make his relationship better because he believed a good relationship should just work on its own, Dr. Jane Greer told him that he could either work at having a better relationship with his wife or he could work on plans for separation and

As there are different languages in the world, there are different ways for people to show love to each other. This way of showing love, or the language of love, can vary from person to person in the same culture the way the spoken word can vary between continents. The result is that if two

Everyone needs a night to themselves occasionally. Not a night spent at home in front of the TV with junk food, but a nice evening out alone. It isn’t uncommon to resist this idea, afraid it would look weird or unattractive to be out alone, but Dr. Sherrie Campbell insists that a lonely date is