Which factor is considered an antidote to contempt in Gottman's model?

Which factor is considered an antidote to contempt in Gottman's model?

• A. Fondness and admiration
• B. Critical feedback
• C. Stonewalling
• D. Defensiveness

Answer: (A)

In Gottman's framework, contempt is the most corrosive pattern in a relationship and is a strong predictor of dissolution. The best antidote to contempt is cultivating fondness and admiration. This means deliberately noticing and expressing your partner’s positive qualities, appreciating who they are, and maintaining a warm, favorable view of them even when disagreements arise. Why this works: when you focus on what you value and love about your partner, your emotional stance shifts from seeing them as an opponent to seeing them as someone worthy of care. This positive regard reduces hostility, lowers defensiveness, and makes it easier to repair after conflicts. It helps create a safe emotional climate where warmth and appreciation can re-enter the relationship, counteracting the corrosive effect of contempt. The other options don’t fit as antidotes because they tend to reinforce negativity or withdrawal: critical feedback can escalate tension and defensiveness; stonewalling and defensiveness shut down communication and deepen disconnection, making contempt more likely to persist rather than be countered.

In Gottman's framework, contempt is the most corrosive pattern in a relationship and is a strong predictor of dissolution. The best antidote to contempt is cultivating fondness and admiration. This means deliberately noticing and expressing your partner’s positive qualities, appreciating who they are, and maintaining a warm, favorable view of them even when disagreements arise.

Why this works: when you focus on what you value and love about your partner, your emotional stance shifts from seeing them as an opponent to seeing them as someone worthy of care. This positive regard reduces hostility, lowers defensiveness, and makes it easier to repair after conflicts. It helps create a safe emotional climate where warmth and appreciation can re-enter the relationship, counteracting the corrosive effect of contempt.

The other options don’t fit as antidotes because they tend to reinforce negativity or withdrawal: critical feedback can escalate tension and defensiveness; stonewalling and defensiveness shut down communication and deepen disconnection, making contempt more likely to persist rather than be countered.