What are perpetual problems in Gottman's framework?

• A. Issues that recur and are tied to fundamental differences.
• B. Issues that arise due to external stress.
• C. Short-term disagreements that go away after a pause.
• D. Problems caused by poor communication only.

Answer: (A)

Perpetual problems are ongoing conflicts that keep resurfacing because they reflect enduring differences between partners—differences in preferences, values, or personality that aren’t likely to disappear. They aren’t fully solvable; instead, couples learn to manage them through acceptance, gentle communication, repair attempts after conflicts, and routines that reduce friction. External stress can magnify issues but isn’t what defines perpetual problems, and some disagreements are solvable and fade after a pause, while simply blaming poor communication misses the deeper, persistent nature of these differences.