The same way that a bank deemed too big to
fail might take greater risks — having the knowledge that its most severe mistakes will be underwritten by somebody else — so, too, can
signing your name on a
marriage licence offer a sort
of insurance policy that changes your behaviour.
If their negative pattern doesn't change, Abby and Rob might begin to feel critical and contemptuous
of each other — two
of the major warning
signs that their
marriage is doomed to
fail, according to Dr. Gottman.