Dr. John Gottman’s research shows that fondness and admiration are two of the most crucial elements in a rewarding and long-lasting romance. As he explains in “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work,” although happy couples may feel driven to distraction at times, they still feel that their partner is worthy of honor and respect.
The best test of a couple’s fondness and admiration system is how they view their past. Ninety-four percent of the time, couples who put a positive spin on their marriage’s history and their partner’s character are likely to have a happy future as well.
The better in touch you are with your deep-seated positive feelings for each other, the less likely that you will act with contempt—the most destructive of the Four Horsemen—when you disagree.
The brief quiz below has been designed to assess the current state of fondness and admiration in your relationship.
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