Repair attempts: how couples recover after conflict
Why the ability to repair, not the absence of conflict, predicts relationship longevity.
John Gottman's research found that the success of a repair attempt depends less on what is said and more on the emotional climate of the relationship at that moment.
“It's not conflict that destroys relationships. It's the failure to repair.”
— John Gottman
A repair attempt can be as simple as touching your partner's arm, using humour, or saying "I need to slow down, can we start again?"
