Married Couples
Robert Levenson, Ph.D., researches human psychophysiology. Levenson uses longitudinal studies of married couples' physiological responses. He measures how empathy requires a calm and receptive emotional environment for the couple to be in physiological sync. When an emotional hijacking is taking place (anger or argument) empathy declines and the cognitions of the spouse are blocked.
Read more about this topic: Emotional Contagion
Famous quotes containing the words married and/or couples:
“The married state, with and without the affection suitable to it, is the completest image of heaven and hell we are capable of receiving in this life.”
—Richard Steele (1672–1729)
“In the best of all possible worlds, childbirth enriches a marriage. In the worst, it harms it. No matter how good their marriage is, most couples find that having a baby challenges their relationship.”
—Jean Marzollo (20th century)