Question

Researchers have found that couples who are happy in their marriages make very different attributions for their partners' behaviors than couples who are unhappy. Specifically, couples in happy marriages make __________, while couples in unhappy marriages make __________.
A. external attributions for their partners' behavior; internal attributions for their partners' behavior
B. internal attributions for their partners' behavior; external attributions for their partners' behavior
C. external attributions for negative behavior and internal attributions for positive behavior; internal attributions for negative behavior and external attributions for positive behavior
D. internal attributions for negative behavior and external attributions for positive behavior; external attributions for negative behavior and internal attributions for positive behavior

Answer 1

Answer:

C). External attributions for negative behavior and internal attributions for positive behavior; internal attributions for negative behavior and external for positive.

Explanation:

According to the 'Attribution Theory', 'internal attribution' is demonstrated as the kind of attribution in which a person attributes the personal or internal factors like feelings, characteristics, motivation, or ability to be the cause of a particular behavior or event. While in external attribution, in which the situation is recognized as the key cause for the person's display of changed behavior.

In the couples with happy marriages, 'external attributions' i.e. 'situational attribution' is considered for negative behavior which prevents conflicts while 'the internal attributions' for positive behavior that helps develop love and bonding in the couple and make their relationship happy and long-lasting. The situation is vice-versa in unhappy marriages as 'internal attributions' for negative behavior creates conflicts and misunderstandings and 'external attributions' for positive do not let their conflicts resolve and keep them feel discontented and unhappy. Thus, option C is the correct answer.