Summary

A young, attractive couple, Bill and Susan, visited the laboratory of psychologist John Gottman at the University of Washington. They were set up in two office chairs on a raised platform with sensors and electrodes clipped to their ears and fingers which monitored bodily functions and movements. They were left alone and told to discuss any points of contention in their marriage. Bill didn’t like the new puppy they got – it was too large for their apartment. Susan loved the puppy. A video revealed that the conversation was civil and without anger.

Conventional wisdom would declare that more information would be necessary to properly evaluate the relationship and predict its continued viability. Had Bill and Susan talked about more important things such as money, children and in-laws, surely more would have been revealed about them and their...