Which type of couple is unable to maintain a 5-to-1 ratio of nice to nasty conduct?

• A. Hostiles
• B. Avoidants
• C. Volatiles
• D. Validators

Answer: (A)

The key idea being tested is Gottman’s guideline that healthy couples maintain about five times as many positive interactions as negative ones. This 5:1 balance reflects warmth, support, and constructive communication that keep the relationship resilient.

Hostile couples are defined by persistent, high levels of negative affect in their exchanges—criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and hostility. Because these negative interactions dominate ongoing conversations, the positive moments don’t stack up enough to reach the 5:1 ratio. The pattern is characterized by contempt and frequent conflict, which erodes positivity and makes sustaining that healthy balance unlikely.

In contrast, the other couple types tend to keep the ratio by embedding warmth, validation, humor, and supportive communication into daily interactions, even when disagreements arise. That’s why the hostile pattern stands out as the one unable to uphold the 5:1 balance.