#conflict
10 articles on conflict.
- Therapy & Alternatives
Premarital Therapy Alternative Questions: 100 to Discuss Before Marriage
Premarital therapy alternative questions grouped by the eight domains that predict a marriage's path: 100 questions before marriage, plus how to use them.
13 min read - Communication
15 Softened Startup Examples: Gottman Scripts for Hard Conversations
Softened startup examples, Gottman-style: 15 fill-in-the-blank scripts that raise a hard topic without triggering defensiveness, with the harsh version beside each.
11 min read - Communication
25 Validation Statements That Defuse Conflict Without Conceding
25 validation statements for relationship conflict that de-escalate a fight without giving in, sorted by intensity, plus the one word that ruins every one of them.
11 min read - Communication
Defensive Body Language in Relationships: What Your Arms, Eyes, and Posture Reveal
Defensive body language in relationships, explained honestly: why single cues mean nothing, which nonverbal clusters actually correlate with disconnection, and how to check.
10 min read - Communication
Micro Repair Attempts: 20 Small Moves That Save Big Fights
Micro repair attempts are the small mid-fight moves that de-escalate before flooding sets in. 20 examples couples can use, plus why accepting one matters.
10 min read - Communication
The Gottman Conflict Blueprint: 6 Steps to Navigate Disagreement Without Damage
The Gottman conflict blueprint, explained: 6 research-backed steps to run a hard conversation, and how to tell which fights you can solve from the ones you can't.
9 min read - Attachment
The Pursue-Withdraw Loop: Mapping the Anxious-Avoidant Dance in Your Relationship
The pursue-withdraw loop, explained: why the anxious-avoidant cycle isn't two flawed people, how to map your version, and the EFT move that interrupts it.
11 min read - Communication
Active Listening Scripts for Couples: 8 Common Scenarios
Active listening scripts for couples: exact phrases for 8 real scenarios, the reflect-and-check pattern, and the failure mode of each one.
12 min read - Communication
How to Complain Without Criticizing: Gottman's First Horseman and What Replaces It
Criticism predicts divorce; complaint doesn't. The Gottman distinction explained, with 12 examples of how to convert a critical statement into a useful complaint.
8 min read - Communication
How to Repair After a Fight: A Step-by-Step Conflict Recovery Guide for Couples
The complete guide to repair after a fight: the Gottman aftermath framework, de-escalation scripts, what to do in the next 24 hours, and how to break the loop.
26 min read