What are some potential sources of resistance in a marriage?

• A. Different levels of commitment, past traumas, and conflict in values.
• B. Total agreement on all issues.
• C. Perfect communication without any misinterpretation.
• D. Absence of external stressors.

Answer: (A)

Resistance in a marriage often comes from mismatches in how committed each partner is to the relationship and to the work of change, plus unresolved past hurts and values disagreements. When one partner isn’t equally invested, they may push back against new ideas, avoid tough conversations, or derail progress. Past traumas can be triggered by discussion or exploration of relationship issues, provoking fear, defensiveness, or withdrawal that looks like resistance. Differences in values strike at what partners consider most important for their life together, making changes feel threatening to their identity or future plans, which further fuels pushback. In contrast, conditions like total agreement on every issue, flawless communication without misinterpretation, or no external stressors would reduce friction and resistance rather than create it, so they’re not sources of resistance.