What is the Sound Marital Model?

• A. A framework developed by Dr. John Gottman for understanding and improving marital relationships.
• B. A short-term active-listening technique valid for all relationship types.
• C. A pharmacological treatment approach for marital distress.
• D. A general relationship model used for any family system, not specific to couples.

Answer: (A)

The Sound Marital Model is a framework John Gottman developed to understand and strengthen marital relationships. It treats a healthy marriage as a structured system with a strong foundation—built on trust, commitment, and a lasting friendship—from which positive interactions flow upward. As couples engage, they work on key processes such as turning toward each other, managing conflicts constructively, and supporting each other’s dreams, all contributing to shared meaning in the relationship. In practice, therapists use this model to assess where a couple stands in these areas and tailor interventions that increase warmth, improve conflict skills, and reinforce the couple’s long-term bond. It’s specific to functioning as a couple, not a generic short-term technique, not a pharmacological approach, and not a broad family-system model for any relationship.