Empathy Quote by John Medina
““Couples who regularly practice empathy see stunning results. It is the independent variable that predicts a successful marriage, according to behaviorist John Gottman, who, post hoc criticisms notwithstanding, forecasts divorce probabilities with accuracy rates approaching 90 percent. In Gottman’s studies, if the wife felt she was being heard by her husband—to the point that he accepted her good influence on his behavior—the marriage was essentially divorce-proof. (Interestingly, whether the husband felt heard was not a factor in divorce rates.) If that empathy trafficking was absent, the marriage foundered. Research””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman, 1999
Empathy, especially when wives feel heard, strongly predicts marital stability, while lack of it leads to breakdown.
In simple terms: Being heard in a marriage predicts success.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate listening skills.
Themes
marriage
empathy
communication
relationships
Mood
hopeful
analytical
Type
advice
research‑based
When to use this quote
- counseling sessions
- relationship workshops
- daily check‑ins
Key Concepts
behavioral psychology
emotional intelligence
predictive modeling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can couples ensure both partners feel heard?
- What barriers prevent husbands from feeling heard?
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
