transition to parenthood, and negotiation will be necessary to complete these tasks. How

a couple negotiates and resolves conflict will largely determine their success in carrying

out these responsibilities. Couples' conflict styles appear to remain relatively stable

across transitions (Raush et al., 1974), though transitions may also require couples to

develop new skills to face new challenges.

 Gottman's typology of marital conflict also intersects with an interactionist view of

gender. Gottman (1994) suggested his typology may mirror a typology of gender

traditionalism among couples proposed by Fitzpatrick (1988). Like the three regulated

types Gottman delineated, Fitzpatrick's three types of couples all demonstrated high

marital satisfaction. Gottman suggested his validating couples might be equivalent to

Fitzpatrick's "traditional couples" who were characterized by stereotyped gender roles

and separate spheres, but high levels of affection and fairly low levels of conflict.

Volatile couples might represent Fitzpatrick's "independent couples" who were

egalitarian, assumed androgynous roles, expressed a great deal of both positive and

negative feelings, and highly valued each partner's independence. Gottman stated

conflict-avoiding couples might be similar to Fitzpatrick's "separate couples" who

expressed traditional values but valued independence and having their own space, while

largely avoiding engaging in conflict.

 Another possible intersection between a theory of conflict and a theory of gender is

the consideration of men and women's different conflict behaviors. Although Gottman's

couple conflict types focus on overall relational patterns rather than individual behavior,

Gottman (1994) described several differences in how men and women tend to approach

conflict, with women tending to confront in conflicts and men tending to withdraw.