Pulse Check: a free relationship check-in for couples
Pulse Check
Communication · 1 of 5
Reflect on Communication
I can share my honest thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism or ridicule.
Reflect on moments you felt undue criticism or ridicule from your partner in the past month. Do you feel safe expressing what you really think without worrying that your partner will mock you, minimize your thoughts, or react with judgment?
For example: You admit you're stressed about money, or that something they did hurt. Does it feel safe to say, or do you brace for the reaction?
Based on longitudinal studies on couples, criticism is one of the primary predictors of relationship distress. High perceived criticism triggers physiological arousal, otherwise known as the fight, flight, or freeze response, which temporarily disables the brain's capacity for cooperative problem-solving.