Final answer:
Penny's depression is understood within the hopelessness theory as a result of internal, stable, and global attributions for her financial struggles, which can be mitigated by changing attribution habits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Penny's situation, as a single mother with financial struggles leading to depression, can be understood within Seligman's theoretical approach to psychological disorders, specifically the learned helplessness model, now evolved into the hopelessness theory. According to this theory, individuals who make internal (self-blaming), stable (permanent), and global (generalized) attributions for negative life events, such as Penny's financial struggles, are more likely to feel a lack of control and thus become prone to depression. Research shows that these attribution styles contribute to depression when individuals encounter stressful life circumstances. However, it is also suggested that changing these attribution habits through training can reduce vulnerability to depression.