What are two primary categories of conflicts Gottman therapy targets?

• A. In-laws and social networks
• B. Solvable problems (e.g., chores, scheduling) and perpetual problems (e.g., differences in personality or core values) that cause gridlock
• C. Past relationships and future plans
• D. Financial disputes and personal health

Answer: (B)

Gottman therapy focuses on two broad types of conflicts: solvable problems and perpetual problems that tend to cause gridlock. Solvable problems are concrete issues you can work through with specific communication and problem-solving steps—things like chores or scheduling that can be negotiated and resolved. Perpetual problems arise from ongoing differences in personality, needs, or values, and they tend to recur even with good communication; these are the heart of gridlock. The therapy aims to reduce distress around perpetual problems by changing interaction patterns, building empathy, and learning to manage these differences, while also teaching practical strategies to resolve solvable problems. Other topics may fuel conflicts, but they aren’t the two foundational categories Gottman emphasizes.