From the bestselling authors of 10 Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy and The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, Drs. John and Julie Gottman present a new general systems theory and mode of therapy, one which will have profound implications for powerful clinical work with both couples and families. It brings an evidence base to classic writings that opened psychotherapy up to more than one person at a time—the couple.

World-renowned for their research-based approach to couples therapy, Drs. John and Julie Gottman 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.

This new theory is based on 45 years of careful 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 or not couples will divorce 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, it will help clinicians become more effective in their everyday work.