EFT-C's understanding of couple distress: an overview of evidence from couple and emotion research

Abstract

Despite the growing body of research on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT-C), less research attention has been paid to the validity of EFT-C's description of the relationship dynamics that characterize distressed couples. The current theoretical paper provides a narrative review of evidence from existing emotion and couple research for EFT-C's assumptions on the origin of relationship distress (according to Johnson and to Greenberg and Goldman). Our findings lead to three conclusions: first, the general assumptions outlined by EFT-Cs on need frustration, emotional responses, and interaction patterns are largely supported by the couple and emotion literature. Second, less straightforward evidence was found for the specific elaborations of these principles made by EFT-Cs. Third, a lack of systematic research on EFT-C's assumptions hampers strong conclusions. We suggest future research on this issue with attention toward current insights in the emotion and couple literature. Practitioner points: Evidence supports EFT-C's basic assumptions that partners’ unmet needs lead to relationship distress and negative emotions, which give rise to negative interaction cycles between partners Direct empirical evidence is available for attachment-related assumptions, whereas assumptions on identity and attraction/liking needs have been less investigated Some of EFT-C's more specific assumptions need to be more systematically researched.