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The Science Of Relationships

This lesson explores leading research and tools on relationships and communication from the Gottman Institute. 

Learning intentions:

  • Identify the elements of successful, long term relationships
  • Understand predictors of relationship stability
  • Identify communication styles that can predict relationship instability 
  • Understand how focusing on fondness and admiration can improve interpersonal communication

Digital Educator: Vanessa

  • 12-30 learners

    Class size

  • 11+

    Year Level

  • 45-60 minutes

    Course duration

  • Two

    Student Handouts

    Preparing for the lesson

    Information
    Resources
    ACHPE Objectives
    UNESCO Objectives
    Safety & Wellbeing
    Sequence
    Extension
    In this The Science Of Relationships lesson, students will strengthen their skills and understanding of the concepts of communication and long term relationships.

    Using the work of the Gottman Institute as a basis for the lesson, students will engage with practical exercises from couple's therapy to learn about building a strong relationship house. In pairs they will work together on Love Maps as a way of knowing a partners inner world. They will learn about damaging communication styles before again engaging with a practical exercise to develop fondness and admiration in a relationship. 

    Each lesson ends with a consolidation activity, inviting students to list 1 thing they have learnt from the lesson, 1 thing they already knew, 1 piece of advice they would share with a friend, and 1 adult or organisation that would be helpful in relation to the lesson topic.  

    Facilitator Printouts

    There is no Facilitator Cheat Sheet for this lesson. 
    Gottman Institute

    Student Printouts

    Additional Student Resources

    Not applicable.
    Key Concept 1: Relationships
    1.2 Friendships, Love and Romantic Relationships.
    •  Key idea: There are different ways to express affection and love. 


    Key Concept 2: Values, Rights, Culture and Society
    2.1 Values, Rights, Culture and Sexuality. 
    •  Key idea: It is important to know one’s own values, beliefs and attitudes, how they impact on the rights of others and how to stand up for them.

     
    2.3 Culture, Society and Sexuality.
    •  Key idea: It is important to be aware of how social and cultural norms impact sexual behaviour while developing one’s own point of view.


    Key Concept 5: Skills for Health and Wellbeing
    5.1 Norms and Peer Influence on Sexual Behaviour. 
    •  Key idea: It is possible to make rational decisions about sexual behaviour.


    5.3 Communication, Refusal and Negotiation Skills. 
    • Key idea: Good communication is essential to personal, family, school, work and romantic relationships.
    • This lesson looks at positive relationship skills. Please note, tools for improving relationships are not recommended in relationships that are abusive as it provides an opportunity for the abuser to further manipulate power dynamics. However, in relationships that are unhealthy or just not quite working, tools and exercises like the ones in this lesson are powerful change agents. 
    1. Exploring the Gottman Institute website and writing or performing a piece of work on a theme or topic. 
    Ideally, you will have scope to deliver all of the lessons in your program. However we understand that many schools have limited capacity to do so.

    In Year 11 and 12 you can deliver lessons from either year level. It can be helpful for Year 12's to explore more foundational issues in the Year 11 curriculum. It is also beneficial for Year 11's to have access to more advanced lessons from the Year 12 curriculum.  

    Should you find yourself having to implement part of this program, we have provided a suggested sequence of lessons within the broader skills and knowledge categories of relationship, consent, gender, and health & legal literacy. We recommend delivering at least one lesson from each category.

    1. Group Agreements & Pod Mapping should be the first lesson as per best practice.
    2. The program should finish with Great Debates as it provides an opportunity for students to integrate their learnings with their own values and engage in respectful communication on conflicting views. 

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