Keyword: stonewalling

Exasperation in Close Relationships September 25, 2012

Host: Armand DiMele

Exasperation quietly poisons relationships, and Armand DiMele argues it signals a timing mismatch between feeling and expression. He traces how suppressed frustration leads to stonewalling, and proposes practical resets including conscious pausing, the smile technique, and ending every conversation with “I love you.” Callers share stories about estranged children and grandchildren.

How Men and Women Communicate Differently Undated

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Linda Vanella

Men talk to establish status; women talk to build closeness. Armand DiMele and Linda Vanella, LCSW-R, unpack why these opposing drives produce so much friction in couples, from the male instinct to solve problems to the female need for consensus, with callers weighing in on real relationship struggles.

Seven Steps for Better Communication in Relationships Undated

Host: Armand DiMele

Blame, defensiveness, and stonewalling quietly destroy relationships. Armand DiMele lays out seven practical communication guidelines, from expecting defensiveness when starting hard conversations to replacing accusatory “you” statements with “I” language, with research on attraction and partner selection woven throughout.

Why Couples Fight So Ugly Undated

Host: Armand DiMele

Reasonable people become their worst selves with their partners. Armand draws on John Gottman’s research to explain why couples slide into contempt, rage, and stonewalling, and offers practical tools like the five-to-one positivity ratio and the “pause clause” to break destructive cycles.