Principia Amoris

Written by world-renowned relationship expert Dr. John Gottman, this book unveils the hidden science behind love and relationships and provides readers with tools for predicting relationship durability. This classic edition includes a new preface by Dr. Gottman that reflects on changes in the field and the research on love since the book's first publication. Drawing from groundbreaking research conducted at Gottman's Love Lab, Gottman reveals that the success or failure of a relationship can be predicted with remarkable accuracy. Through a combination of psychological insights and innovative mathematical models, Gottman introduces readers to the Love Equations -- powerful tools that can diagnose relationship issues, foster understanding between partners, and even prevent breakups before they happen. This book features Gottman's signature "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" metaphor which describes the common communication styles that can predict the end of a relationship. Readers also learn about the 5 couple types, 5 recipes for good relationships, and 45 natural principles of love. An invaluable resource for mental health professionals and curious readers alike, Principia Amoris provides enlightening perspectives on love through a blend of science and heart. Whether for couples looking to strengthen their own relationships or for clinicians seeking insight into the complex dynamics of human connection, this timeless work offers tools and wisdom that endure.

John Mordechai Gottman, PhD, is a world-renowned relationship scholar and researcher known for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction. He has conducted 50 years of research with thousands of couples, and is the cofounder, with his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, of the Gottman Institute. He is also the executive director of the affiliated Relationship Research Institute and a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington, where he founded "The Love Lab." More information about John and the Gottman Institute is available at www.gottman.com.

Foreword by Paul R. Peluso 1. A Science of Love? Really? 2. There are Three Phases of Love in a Lifetime of Love 3. Imagining "The Love Equations" 4. Love and Equations Do Go Together 5. Our Final Love Equations 6. The Invisible Factors that Deeply Affect Love 7. There are Only Three Ways to Love Well 8. Getting a Feeling for the Love Equation Parameters: Becoming a Better Observer of Couples' Interactions 9. When to Bail out of a Bad Relationship: With a Little Help from Algebra 10. As Good As It Gets 11. The Rest of Emotion 12. Emotional Turbulence 13. Five Recipes for a Delicious Relationship, and Proof that It Works