Which option lists the four horsemen of the apocalypse as described in Gottman theory?

Which option lists the four horsemen of the apocalypse as described in Gottman theory?

• A. Honoring life dreams, building love maps, sentiment override, and self-soothing
• B. Positive affect, cognitive room, and turning toward each other
• C. Soft startups, family rituals, and compromise
• D. Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling

Answer: (D)

In Gottman theory, the Four Horsemen are four destructive ways couples communicate that reliably predict relationship trouble. They are criticism (attacking the partner’s character rather than the issue), contempt (disdain and disrespect, often sneering or mocking), defensiveness (protecting oneself and blaming the partner in response to perceived attack), and stonewalling (pulling back and shutting down in response to escalating negativity, usually from physiological arousal). These patterns undermine trust and closeness and are the hallmark signs scientists watch for when assessing relationship health. The option that lists these four patterns is correct because it captures exactly the negative communication dynamics Gottman identifies as most harmful. The other options mix positive processes or different concepts (like building love maps, positive affect, soft startups, rituals, and compromise), which are not the four horsemen and thus don’t fit this specific construct.

In Gottman theory, the Four Horsemen are four destructive ways couples communicate that reliably predict relationship trouble. They are criticism (attacking the partner’s character rather than the issue), contempt (disdain and disrespect, often sneering or mocking), defensiveness (protecting oneself and blaming the partner in response to perceived attack), and stonewalling (pulling back and shutting down in response to escalating negativity, usually from physiological arousal). These patterns undermine trust and closeness and are the hallmark signs scientists watch for when assessing relationship health.

The option that lists these four patterns is correct because it captures exactly the negative communication dynamics Gottman identifies as most harmful. The other options mix positive processes or different concepts (like building love maps, positive affect, soft startups, rituals, and compromise), which are not the four horsemen and thus don’t fit this specific construct.