Abstract
The current study examined the ability to predict Gottman's four dysfunctional communication behaviors during marital arguments based on the level of surface and core problems in marriage. Core problems were composed of three factors: caring, power, and commitment problems. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 182 married women residing in Busan. The results of multiple regression analyses revealed that a woman's degree of criticism was predicted by surface and caring problems when controlling for the other variables. The degree of contempt was predicted by a commitment problem as well as surface and caring problems. Defensiveness was determined only by a commitment problem, while stonewalling was determined only by a power problem. Overall, these results showed the importance of core problems in understanding the causes of the four dysfunctional communication behaviors - especially contempt - and suggested that additional attention should be given to a commitment problem as a contributor to the expression of contempt and defensiveness.
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