According to Gottman, the quality of a couple's friendship is also the most important predictor of satisfaction with sex, romance and passion in their marriages. Successful couples have considerable data in this information bank and continue to add to it through interacting with and tuning in to their partner. A fondness and admiration system . This is a collection of ways to show respect and affection to our partner. It is the antidote of criticism and contempt in a relationship.
Successful couples find ways to accentuate the positive aspects of their partner.
The positives far outweigh the negatives. Turning toward or turning away . Couples have ways of bidding for one another's attention. These bids may be answered positively or responded to with disinterest. For instance, when a partner begins to share how their day went, successful couples are attentive and do other things that show they are tuning in.