A Partner’s Language
For Women: 25 common mistakes that can alienate the man in your life.
- Exclude him from important decisions.
- Correct what he says.
- Question his judgment.
- Give unsolicited advice.
- Dismiss his opinion.
- Imply inadequacy.
- Make unrealistic demands of his time and energy.
- Overreact.
- Ignore his desires.
- Focus on what you didn’t get, rather than what you got.
- Withhold praise.
- Use a harsh tone.
- Be abrupt – spring things on him.
- Undermine his wishes.
- Condescend.
- Criticize his personality.
- Disrespect his work.
- Show little or no interest in his interests.
- Criticize his family.
- Interpret, psychoanalyze, or diagnose him.
- Make comparisons to other men.
- Focus on your unhappiness.
- Put friends before him.
- Value others’ needs over his.
- Rob him of the opportunity to help.
For Men: 25 common mistakes that can alienate the woman in your life.
- Ignore her.
- Tell her what to do.
- Be short with your answers.
- Tune out her feelings.
- Stonewall or give her the cold shoulder.
- Take her for granted.
- Limit or criticize her spending.
- Tell her to stop worrying.
- Tell her she’s making too much of ____.
- Tell her to get over ____.
- Tell her she talks too much.
- Complain about her weight.
- Criticize her family.
- Withdraw or shut down.
- Yell or get angry.
- Pout or sulk.
- Threaten to quit your job.
- Flirt with other women.
- Ignore her dreams.
- Tell her she’s just like her mother.
- Complain about her women friends.
- Give her the cold shoulder.
- Dismiss her ideas.
- Sound like you’re trapped in the marriage.
- Buy a sports car.
