noted volatile couples are usually able to use their positive interactions to repair negative

exchanges, but expressed concern that some negative interactions may be too hurtful to

be repaired; if this occurs, volatile couples also run the risk of deteriorating into a

nonregulated hostile type of relationship.

 The final type of regulated couple Gottman described consists of validating

couples. These couples engage in conflict having a calm undercurrent. During conflicts,

partners validate each other's points of view verbally and nonverbally even if they

disagree with those viewpoints. There is a sense of mutual engagement with the problem,

with both partners feeling like they are on the same side even though they disagree. The

primary risks Gottman hypothesized about validating couples were that their relationships

may grow to become more of friendships than romances and partners can become

increasingly distant. He noted validating couples "may be particularly vulnerable at major

life transitions, such as the transition to parenthood" (Gottman, 1994, p. 191).

 Gottman delineated two types of nonregulated couples, including hostile couples

and hostile/detached couples. Hostile couples are characterized by a high degree of

conflict engagement and defensiveness. Hostile/detached couples are generally

disengaged, but have brief episodes of very negative interactions; partners in these

couples demonstrate more contempt and disgust for each other than do hostile couples.

Gottman suggested the hostile/detached couple type may represent a further deterioration

of the hostile couple type. Gottman has often grouped together the two types of

nonregulated couples, as did the authors of a survey based on his conceptions of couple

conflict types (Holman & Jarvis, 2003).