“…Because communication has been viewed as the key mechanism underlying relationship functioning, interventions designed to prevent or ameliorate couples' distress have emphasized communication skills (e.g., Benson, McGinn, & Christensen, ; Rogge, Cobb, Lawrence, Johnson, & Bradbury, ). In particular, this focus on decreasing negative communication and increasing positive communication forms the core agenda in large‐scale, federally sponsored tests of leading couple education programs (e.g., Hsueh et al, ; Wood, Moore, Clarkwest, & Killwald, ), following the assumption that improving couples' communication will improve relationships and, ultimately, prevent relationship dissolution. This focus is appropriate if poor communication is the root of marital distress.…”