Immediacy behaviours and synchrony in satisfied and dissatisfied couples

This study examined whether the organization of positive behaviours during marital problem-solving discussions discriminated satisfied from dissatisfi ed couples. Maritally satisfied (10) and dissatisfied (10) couples' interac tions were coded with an observation system assessing partners' respective immediacy behaviours. We used sequential analyses to assess synchrony betwe en the two partners' changes in levels of immediacy behaviours. The finding s showed that, relative to dissatisfied couples, satisfied couples showed s tronger associations between the two partners' respective changes in levels of immediacy behaviours. The findings suggest that interactional synchrony is a useful framework for discriminating satisfied and dissatisfied couple s' communication patterns. Further analyses of speech-turn organization may help understanding of positive communication in marriage.