As a Harvard-trained psychologist who has spent 20 years working with couples, I've found that the most damaging way to communicate with your partner is with contempt.
Contempt is the belief that a person is beneath you, worthless, or deserving of scorn and ridicule.
When someone feels contempt for their partner, they feel justified in humiliating, embarrassing, or hurting them.
One phrase that reflects contempt, and that I've seen destroy relationships the most, is: "I wish we'd never met."
It can ultimately ruin the foundation of a healthy romantic connection and lead to lower relationship satisfaction.
Persons:
I've, we'd
Organizations:
Harvard