Attributional processes in distressed and nondistressed married couples

Abstract

The present study compared the tendencies on the part of distressed and nondistressed couples to attribute their partners' positive and negative behavior to internal versus external factors. The prediction was that, compared to nondistressed spouses, distressed spouses would be inclined to attribute their partners' positive behavior to external factors, and their negative behavior to internal factors. Forty-nine nondistressed and 23 distressed couples were randomly assigned to one of two instructional manipulations, delivered to one spouse unbeknownst to the other. One set of instructions was to “act positive” during a subsequent conflict resolution interaction; the other was to “act negative.” Following the conflict resolution task, the uninstructed spouse was given the opportunity to explain his/her partner's behavior by completing a questionnaire consisting of a series of internal and external causal attributions. The findings supported the following hypothesis: Distressed couples were particularly likely to attribute their partners' negative behavior to internal factors; nondistressed couples, on the other hand, were particularly likely to attribute their partners' positive behavior to internal factors. Moreover, there was an overall tendency to favor internal attributions, regardless of distress level or valence of the behavior being interpreted. Discussion centered both on the implications of these findings and on directions for future research.