It turns out that yelling is a grey area. It is hard to determine whether one partner actually yelled at the other or it was perceived as yelling by the recipient. Frequently in the office, a husband will say, “Last night you yelled at me…” and the wife is taken aback saying, “I never yelled at you.” She truly feels she was not yelling. So, what is the truth? Is yelling raising your voice or speaking sternly? When does speaking directly become “yelling?” Are we unaware that we are yelling when we actually are? It is clear that if you grew up in a loud, expressive family, your tolerance for emotional interchanges is higher than someone whose family never discussed things (and those two often marry one another). The person whose family was emotional takes it in stride while their partner hears shrieking. So, what constitutes yelling?

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