Human Relations

How well do you really know your SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
A thorough knowledge leads to a deep friendship, and that is the key to a lasting marriage, says John Gottman in The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Answer these true/false questions adapted from his book:
I can name my partner’s best friends.
I know what stresses that my partner currently faces.
I know the names of those who have been irritating my partner lately.
I know some of my partner’s life dreams.
I am very familiar with my partner’s religious beliefs.
I can outline my partner’s basic philosophy of life.
I can list the relatives my partner likes least.
I know my partner’s favorite music.
I can list my partner’s favorite three movies.
I know the most stressful thing that happened to my partner in childhood.
I can list my partner’s major aspirations.
I know what my partner would do if he/she won the lottery.
I can relate in detail my first impressions of my partner.
I ask my partner about his/her world periodically.
I feel my partner knows me fairly well.
Scoring: If you answered true to more than half, this is an area of strength in your marriage. You know what makes your partner tick. If not, take time to learn more about your spouse to make your relationship stronger, Gottman says.