What distinguishes a happy couple from an unhappy couple?
Based on the same national survey, the most important difference was whether the partners feel understood when discussing problems. Not only do happy couples feel understood, but they also feel able to share feelings and opinions and being listened to with respect from the other, during confrontations. Happy couples are also much more likely to agree that their disagreements get resolved and that they have similar processes about how to resolve conflicts. TIP3: How does a couple constructively resolve conflict? Conflict skills are easy to understand and practice. Here are a few suggestions for improving your ability to resolve conflict: • Accept conflict as a normal part of a close relationship. • Take time to openly listen to the concerns of your partner. • Never negotiate in moments of anger. Take a break. • When negotiating, do not bring up past issues. • Focus on the relevant and current issues and express both positive and negative feelings. • Do not blame each other, but focus on
