Women are consistently more likely to initiate conflict discussions and to use harsh startup. (gottman.com)
In distressed marriages, we commonly find habitual harsh startups by the wife combined with frequent flooding and subsequent stonewalling by the husband. (nathancobb.com)
A marriage's meltdown can be predicted, then, by habitual harsh startup and frequent flooding brought on by the relentless presence of the four horsemen during disagreements. (gottman.com)