Final answer:
Healthy marriages are not marked by more affection than criticism, a lack of conflict, or an ability to reconcile differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to John Gottman (1994, 1998), healthy marriages are NOT marked by more affection than criticism, a lack of conflict, or an ability to reconcile differences. Instead, in healthy marriages, there tends to be a balance of compliments and criticisms. While criticism is not absent, it is outweighed by compliments. This is important because it indicates that a healthy marriage does not avoid conflict altogether, but rather handles it in a constructive and respectful manner.