Arguing With Your Spouse

Interesting tidbit buried in an article this morning that I’m going to steal a lot now. Here’s the article in CNN Money, called Will Your Money Fights Lead to Divorce? Down near the end, Commentator Jeanne Sahadi quotes Dr. John Gottman’s advice about how to criticize your spouse in a constructive way.

The problem we husbands and wives have when we argue is our tendency to make global statements. Instead of describing my fear for my wife’s safety when she neglects to wear her seat belt, I might say, “You’re so sloppy. You don’t care about me at all.”

Gottman’s suggestion is that whenever we need to say anything critical about our spouse, we use an “X-Y-Z” formula: “When you did (or didn’t do) X in situation Y, I felt Z.” And the article applies it this way:

“It’s more constructive to say, ‘When you bounced several checks, and the bank called, I felt embarrassed and angry’ rather than ‘You’re incredibly irresponsible for bouncing a check, I’m constantly have to pick up after your mistakes and fix everything you screw up,'” [Gottman] writes.

If we husbands and wives could learn to use that simple technique when we argue, it might make my business dry up practically overnight. Now wouldn’t that be a trip?

One thought on “Arguing With Your Spouse”

  1. i need help,my wife wants a divorce because of several issues.all
    one is my temper, another is my parents meddling ways,another
    is my attitude towards her lack of sex drive. i have taken
    steps to control my issues but, she needs help to keep
    from repressing her feelings and keeping everything in.she
    wont seek help for her issues. she has since fired up an
    affair with a co-worker. i love my wife and kids and i am
    getting counciling for my problems but she said she still
    wants out! i am crushed… any advice?

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