Lessons from the love masters

Sometimes, understanding how love works feels more like rocket science than romance, especially when Cupid’s actions defy explanation and you feel like you need an advanced degree just to get farther than three dates with somebody new. 

Happily, scientists at the Relationship Research Institute in Seattle have made it their job to rigorously study relationships of all types to help others understand what makes some of them successful — and what causes other relationships to fail. Using the RRI’s predictive research can help you make better decisions about dating. 

The RRI was founded in 1998 by University of Washington psychologist Dr. John Gottman to serve a home base for his 35 years of research covering human relationships. Gottman is the author of many books, including The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships. After decades of studying various romantic couplings, Gottman used his findings to develop the “Sound Relationship House Theory,” which distills the behaviors he observed in couples who enjoyed satisfying, healthy relationships.
“We call these couples the ‘masters’ of relationships,” explains Renay Cleary Bradley, RRI’s director of research. “The masters have taught us many things about what couples who are in healthy relationships do, and what couples who would like to be in healthy relationships can