The '''Cascade Model of Relational Dissolution''' (also known as '''Gottman's Four Horsemen''') is a relational communications theory that proposes four critically negative behaviors that lead to the breakdown of marital and romantic relationships.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|title=Handbook of interpersonal communication|last=Knapp, M.L.|first=Daly, John A.|publisher=SAGE Publications|year=2002|isbn=0-7619-2160-5|___location=|pages=270}}</ref> This model is the work of psychological researcher '''[[John Gottman]]''', a professor at the '''[[University of Washington]]''' and founder of '''[[The Gottman Institute]]''' and his research partner '''Robert W. Levenson'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gottman.com/about/research/|title=Overview - Research|website=The Gottman Institute|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-06}}</ref> This theory focuses on the negative influence of [[Linguistics|'''verbal''']] and '''[[nonverbal communication]]''' habits on the success and/or failure of marriages and other relationships.<ref name=":02" /> Gottman's model uses a metaphor that compares the four negative communication styles that lead to the breakdown of a relationship to the biblical '''[[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]],''' wherein each behavior, or horseman, compounds the problems of the previous, leading to the total breakdown of communication in a relationship.<ref name=":02" />
== Background ==
Gottman and Levenson's research focuses on differentiating failed and successful marriages and notes that nonverbal emotional displays progress in a linear pattern, creating a negative emotional and physical response that leads to withdrawal.<ref name=":02" /> Prior to the development of the model (1992-1994) little research had been conducted that focused on finding specific interactive behaviors and processes that resulted in marital dissatisfaction, separation, and '''[[divorce]]'''.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last=Gottman|first=John M.|date=1993|title=A theory of marital dissolution and stability.|journal=Journal of Family Psychology|volume=7|issue=1|pages=57–75|doi=10.1037/0893-3200.7.1.57|issn=0893-3200}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Gottman|first=John M.|last2=Levenson|first2=Robert W.|date=1992|title=Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health.|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=63|issue=2|pages=221–233|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.63.2.221|issn=0022-3514}}</ref> Additionally, Gottman and Levenson's research indicated that not all negative interactions, like '''[[anger]]''', are predictive of relational separation and divorce.<ref name=":12" /> Gottman and Levenson's research notes that the "cascade toward relational dissolution" can be predicted by the regulation, or non-regulation, of positive to negative interactions of couples, with couples that regulated their positive-to-negative interactions being significantly less likely to experience the cascade.<ref name=":12" /> This research has been furthered by looking at ways to intervene in the cascade communication process, and on its' application to other types and models of relationships, including homosexual marriages.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Garanzini|first=Salvatore|last2=Yee|first2=Alapaki|last3=Gottman|first3=John|last4=Gottman|first4=Julie|last5=Cole|first5=Carrie|last6=Preciado|first6=Marisa|last7=Jasculca|first7=Carolyn|date=October 2017|title=Results of Gottman Method Couples Therapy with Gay and Lesbian Couples|journal=Journal of Marital and Family Therapy|language=en|volume=43|issue=4|pages=674–684|doi=10.1111/jmft.12276}}</ref>
