Gottman’s SocialPsychophysiological Research
Protocol
Gottman, J. M., Katz, L. F., &
Hooven, C. (1997). Meta-emotion:
How families communicate emotionally.
Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates.
Introduction
 In Gottman’s protocol, participants
complete self-report instruments,
participate in a semi-structured interview
that investigates attitudes about
emotions, and discuss topics of conflict in
a laboratory setting.
 The laboratory interactions are
videotaped and physiological arousal is
measured.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Semi-Structured Interview
 The emotion interview is based on the
semi-structured meta-emotion interview
developed by Dr. John Gottman and his
colleagues.
 It measures participants’
 experience of sadness;
 experience of anger;
 philosophy of emotional expression and
control;
 parents’ feelings, attitudes, and responses to
their child’s anger and sadness.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Observational Measures of Marital
Interaction
 Participants are videotaped having a lowconflict conversation and a high-conflict
conversation.
 Three dimensions of marital interaction are
measured:
 Rapid Couple Interaction Scoring System.
The Rapid Couple Interaction Scoring System
(RCISS) is a coding system that identifies
problem-solving behavior using a checklist to
code behaviors of speaker and listener for
each spoken turn.
 Specific Affect Coding System. The Specific
Affect Coding System (SPAFF) is a rating
system that relies on coders to evaluate verbal
content, voice tone, context, facial expression,
and nonverbal body language to assess
expressed affect.
 Emotional Facial Action Coding System. The
Emotional Facial Action Coding System
(EMFACS) assesses emotional expressions
and non-emotional expressions that are used
to control facial expressions.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Physiological Measurement
 During each of the laboratory
interactions, three aspects of
physiological arousal are measured for
each participant: (a) heart rate, (b) skin
conductance, and (c) respiration.
 These physiological variables provide
information about level of physiological
arousal and parasympathetic functioning
of the participant.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson