Chapter 10

Question 1

Define Gottman’s 4 horsemen (Communication patterns) that are risk factors for divorce.

What is the fifth one Gottman added?

Answer 1

Contempt: Communicating insulting feelings that one’s spouse is inferior.

Criticism: Involves expressing negative evaluation of one’s partner.

Defensiveness: Responding to contempt and criticism by invalidating, refuting, or denying the partner’s statements.

Stonewalling: Refusing to listen to one’s partner, especially to the partner’s complaints.

(Gottman) Belligerence: Involves provocative, combative challenges to the partner’s power and authority.

Question 2

During what years are married couples most likely to get a divorce?

Answer 2

During the first decade of a marriage

Question 3

Cohabitation is associated with higher divorce rates. Why?

Answer 3

Theorists argue that this nontraditional lifestyle has historically attracted a more liberal and less conventional crowd of people who are not as committed to the institution of marriage.

Question 4

Victims of partner abuse tend to suffer what symptoms?

Answer 4

Severe anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness and humiliation, and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

Question 5

List some characteristics of batterers

Answer 5

Unemployed, drinking and drug problems, tendency to anger easily, attitudes that condone aggression, and high stress.

Question 6

Most victims are raped by a stranger. True or False?

Answer 6

False

Question 7

About half of all rapes include what?

Answer 7

Alcohol.