Dr. John Gottman's extensive research spanning over four decades has intricately categorized couples into five distinct types. Among these, three are considered relatively successful and adaptive—Conflict-Avoiding, Volatile, and Validating—while the remaining two, Hostile and Hostile-Detached, are deemed more problematic and prone to relationship challenges. Each style embodies unique characteristics, communication patterns, and approaches to conflict resolution, shedding light on the diverse dynamics within romantic partnerships.


Gottman's Research...Which Couple are You?

Dr. John Gottman has been conducted research on couples for over 40 years. As a result of Gottman's research in the love lab, he has categorized couples into five distinct types.

Three of the types he considers to be relatively successful and adaptive; Conflict-Avoiding, Volatile, and Validating.

The remaining two, he considers to be more problematic and maladaptive; Hostile, and most problematic and divorce-prone of them all, Hostile-Detached.

The three adaptive relational styles (Conflict-Avoiding, Validating, and Volatile) are profoundly different from one another but are still able to keep a positive ratio of 5:1 in their emotional bank accounts, and can resist the temptation to slide into negative sentiment override (NSO).

Functional Couples Styles

1. Conflict Avoidant Couples        

The functionality of Conflict Avoidant Couples is a matter of degree. These couples are not comfortable with strong-arm persuasion tactics. They are not strategic thinkers.

They do not press for personal advantage. They focus on areas of agreement and are most comfortable when areas of mutual agreement expand rather than contract.

They become anxious at the thought of making active requests of one another, and prize mutuality and congruency as true emblems of happiness.

Conflict-avoiding couples tend to be acutely aware of where areas of independent functioning overlap into areas where cooperation and negotiation are required. They prefer to establish crisp and well-delineated boundaries and prize independent functioning.

They tend to be distinctly separate people, with decidedly separate concerns. When mutual reliance is required, they can get these areas worked out well. They are empathetic and fair-minded. However, they tend to be emotionally muted, and content with low-key "good enough" communication.

However, in cases of younger couples with extreme Conflict-Avoidance, this style can tend to experiment with serial infidelity as a way of getting attention, sometimes with very damaging results. Couples therapy can help these young couples improve their communication and understand that there is a downside to too much conflict avoidance.

2. Volatile Couples

Characterized by high levels of strong emotion, Volatile Couples are nearly polar opposites to Conflict-Avoidant Couples. Volatile Couples are intensely emotional.

They are incredibly competitive and resort to persuasion to "win over" their partner to their point of view from the very start of the conversation.

Although they continuously keep their "eyes on the prize," and relentlessly advocate for their point of view, they are generally able to do this with respect, humor, integrity, and goodwill.

Volatile Couples are entertained and energized by a good debate. Gottman's research says these couples love to mix it up, but they respect each other and express goodwill, even while they are passionately seeking to persuade.

Unlike the Conflict Avoiders, Volatile Couples do not value separation in their individual lives, and there can be large and sometimes messy areas of shared emotional and cognitive space.

3. Validating Couples

These couples have taken the ultimate chill pill. They have an easy-going manner with each other. In their degree of emotional expression, they seem to be somewhere between Conflict Avoiders and Volatile Couples.

Gottman's research tells us that the typical Validating Couple is very empathic. They usually go along to get along, and they work hard to understand their partner's perspective. Validating Couples are not total pushovers, however. They are careful when they pick their battles.

If they have strong opposing points of view on an issue that they care about, they're both capable of digging in. Ultimately, Validating Couples tend to soothe themselves, roll up their sleeves, and craft a solution that considers both points of view. Validating Couples tend to have a softer approach to each other, and the overall mood is cordial and subdued.

Dysfunctional Couples Styles

4. Hostile Couples 

All of the Four Horsemen are on display with Hostile Couples, But the Attack/Defend Groundhog Day fights are where Hostile Couples get perpetually bogged down.

Hostile Couples spend a great deal of time in criticism and defensiveness, and empathy is clearly in ongoing short supply. Contempt also shows up, and Hostile Couples interactions have a skip in the record.

They have the same fights over and over with little understanding of just how stuck they are in their own felt sense of being "right." As someone once said, you can be right, or you can be married.

Hostile Couples, however, defy that axiom, as they tend to modulate their negativity just enough never to let it get completely out of control.  Gottman's research reports that despite their perpetual conflict, Hostile Couples tend to remain together in an unhappy union.

Some hostile couples actually fear intimacy. They squabble to carve out space for themselves. We call these couples intimacy-avoidant. They fight in front of the kids and are married more to their misery than to each other.

5. Hostile-Detached Couples        

Hostile-Detached Couples engage in trench warfare, bitterly escalating the level of negativity. Hostile-detached wives are typically inconsolable, as all aspects of trust have been eroded.

They have the same tendency to fight and show the Four Horsemen in each fight, just like Hostile Couples.

But Hostile-Detached couples are very divorce-prone, where Hostile Couples typically are not. So how are they different?

While their husbands seek to withdraw, Hostile-Detached wives will keep fighting until both are entirely escalated and dysregulated, Hostile Couples will regulate their conflict, where the Hostile-Detached will keep fighting until they are exhausted and burned-out. Emotional abuse is a persistent pattern with Hostile-detached couples.

I also wonder if this tendency to keep fighting is indicative of a personality disorder such as BPD. Angry women typically are uncomfortable with naked aggression and tend to prefer to go silent and dark. Gottman's research describes these couples as the most dysfunctional and the most divorce-prone of all the 5 styles.

Closing

Understanding the distinct classifications of couples according to Gottman's research provides a lens through which to assess relationship dynamics. From the Conflict-Avoiding couples who prioritize harmony through separation to the intense yet respectful debates of Volatile couples, and the empathy-driven Validating couples, each style manifests its own strengths and pitfalls. Conversely, the Hostile and Hostile-Detached couples grapple with chronic conflict and deeper issues, showcasing the most challenging aspects of relational dynamics. Reflecting on these categories prompts introspection—what characteristics resonate within your relationship, and how might this awareness guide the evolution and improvement of your partnership?

What Kind of Couple Are You?

Ready for a change in your relationship?

It starts with a no-obligation 15 minute phone call with our client services team.

Dr. Kathy McMahon


Dr. Kathy McMahon (Dr. K) is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist. She is also the founder and president of Couples Therapy Inc. Dr. K feels passionate about couples therapy and sex therapy and holds a deep respect towards those who invest in making their relationship better. She is currently conducting online and in person private couples retreats.

Leave a Reply

Please note that your name will be displayed with your comment.

Your email address will not be published.

  1. Couples Therapy Inc

    I'm interested in citing this source correctly, when was this article written/last edited?

    Best Regards Janus

  2. I was enjoying this article until the last two paragraphs.
    Did you really just manage to put the weight of the most divorce prone- hostile-avoidant relationships on women? Who are possibly personality disordered? Eek.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}