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Relationships · Gottman

Dreams Within Conflict

69% of fights are perpetual

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69% of couple conflicts are perpetual — you don't solve them, you learn the dream underneath. Then you can honor it instead of fighting about it.

The recurring conflict
My position — what I'm asking for on the surface
The dream underneath — what this represents for me (history, values, identity)
My partner's dream underneath (what I understand of it)
Non-negotiable core / areas of flex — for each of us

References & further reading

Conceptual background and further reading, not validation of this handout. Named instruments and methods belong to their original authors; custom prompts and trackers are not validated versions of those instruments.

  • Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (revised ed.). Harmony.
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