"The Love Lab"

In 1986, Dr. John Gottman joined the University of Washington Department of Psychology, and started the Family Research Laboratory. The Family Research Laboratory has been the site for numerous studies on marriage, gay and lesbian couples, transition to parenthood, domestic violence, parenting and child development. This Laboratory has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health throughout the past 15 years. 

The Family Research Laboratory is now being operated by Dr. Gottman's Relationship Research Institute, near the University of Washington campus at the Talaris World Conference Center. The physiology laboratory, which is often referred to as the “Love Lab”, is where couples are screened, interviewed, and observed. The laboratory uses video, heart rate monitors, measures of pulse amplitude, jitteriness and skin conductivity. At the laboratory this information is coded using the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and techniques of math modeling to assess relationships and predict their trajectories. The laboratory has a video data bank of hundreds of couples interacting at different time points in their relationship.

Dr. John Gottman is director of the Family Research Laboratory and Alyson Shapiro is the Lab Manager. Katie Swanson is the Family Research Laboratory’s data analyst. In addition, a number of advanced graduate students and highly skilled research technologists contribute to the success of the Family Research Laboratory.

Questions?  Please contact the Relationship Research Institute at 206-832-0300.