A 5-second break during a fight can prevent the relationship between couples from getting worse
The results of a new study show that a short pause of five seconds during arguments between couples can prevent the escalation of arguments and pour water on the fire of disputes.
According to the report of event 24, quoted by Euronews, the results of a new study show that a short pause of five seconds during arguments between couples can prevent the escalation of arguments and put water on the fire of disputes.
Although this may seem obvious, this is the first study to scientifically show a reduction in aggression after forced breaks.
To measure the effect of forced interruptions on arguments, psychologists at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland designed a game in which couples make as many unpleasant noises as they want to their partners.
In this experiment, in which 81 couples participated, people participated in 30 stages of the game and rest was done at different time intervals.
In this study, a 360-degree camera with audio recording capabilities was used, and researchers used advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze emotional responses. They found that a five-second pause was just as effective as longer forced pauses.
Anna McCurry, a PhD researcher in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St. Andrews, UK, who led the research, says: “Forcing couples to take a five-second break was just as effective as a 10- or 15-second pause. Which shows that even the shortest interruptions can help calm down arguments.”
He added: “This is a simple, free and effective trick to reduce negative emotions during an argument. “It costs less than couples therapy and can be easily integrated into everyday interactions.”
Ms. McCurry and her colleagues found that couples tend to adapt and adjust to their partner's level of aggression, even at high levels. However, the administration of a short break disrupted this retaliatory pattern and resulted in a reduction in overall aggression.
At the same time, researchers say this strategy has its own limitations and is mainly suitable for managing lower-level conflicts and preventing them from escalating into more serious fights.
“This works well for managing everyday arguments that couples face and can escalate, and for example, this approach is inappropriate for cases where domestic violence is perpetrated by one spouse,” says Ms. McCurry.
The results of new studies have been published in the scientific journal “Nature”.
