In conflict research, which attribution style is associated with unhappy marriages?

In conflict research, which attribution style is associated with unhappy marriages?

• A. Casual Attributions
• B. Unrealistically Positive Attributions
• C. Fantastic Attributions
• D. Negative Responsibility Attributions

Answer: (D)

Attribution style in conflict research is about how partners explain why disagreements happen and who is to blame. Negative responsibility attributions occur when one partner consistently assigns the problem to the other and views that person as the cause, often seeing these causes as stable and tied to that person’s character. This pattern makes conflicts feel personal and unchangeable, increases defensiveness, and erodes trust, which together reduce relationship satisfaction and contribute to an unhappy marriage. By contrast, more balanced or external attributions (seeing issues as arising from situational factors or from both partners’ actions) tend to support repair and warmth. So the attribution style that aligns with unhappy marriages is blaming the partner for problems in a fixed, internal way.

Attribution style in conflict research is about how partners explain why disagreements happen and who is to blame. Negative responsibility attributions occur when one partner consistently assigns the problem to the other and views that person as the cause, often seeing these causes as stable and tied to that person’s character. This pattern makes conflicts feel personal and unchangeable, increases defensiveness, and erodes trust, which together reduce relationship satisfaction and contribute to an unhappy marriage. By contrast, more balanced or external attributions (seeing issues as arising from situational factors or from both partners’ actions) tend to support repair and warmth. So the attribution style that aligns with unhappy marriages is blaming the partner for problems in a fixed, internal way.