Couples who want to make their relationship last forever should pay attention to "communication offers," according to John Gottmann and Julie Gottman, founders of the Gottman Institute, an institute that focuses their work as researchers and clinical psychologists.
Throughout their careers, they have been observing what makes relationships work or fail and have found that couples who adapt to each other’s communication needs are more successful.
A "connection offer" is when the partner says or does something but does not ask a direct question. For example, if your partner comments on something while you are walking, or says something about the weather.
It may seem like these comments need no answer, but it is not necessarily so.
The Gottmans studied newlyweds for 24 hours and found that couples who responded to each other's offers of relationships at least 85% of the time had more successful relationships six years later.
They say asking the following question or accepting what the other person is saying is a good way for them to feel heard.
