Final answer:
Attributions in psychology refer to the explanations given for events, classified as controllable/uncontrollable, internal/external, and stable/unstable. Distress maintaining attributions in relationships attribute negative behaviors to unchanging, internal and controllable factors, often leading to unhappy relationships. In contrast, relationship enhancing attributions, which attribute behaviors to external and changeable causes, are associated with happier relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discussion of controllable/uncontrollable, internal/external, and stable/unstable attributions pertains to the different dimensions of attribution theory that explain how individuals interpret events and how this relates to their thoughts and behaviors. This concept is closely tied to the study of psychology, particularly within the areas of social psychology and personality. Attributions are the explanations we give for the behaviors of ourselves and others. They can be classified along three main dimensions:
- Controllable vs. Uncontrollable: This refers to whether an individual believes they have power over an event or outcome.
- Internal vs. External: This involves whether the cause of an event is believed to be due to internal factors (like personal ability or effort) or external factors (like the difficulty of the task or luck).
- Stable vs. Unstable: This pertains to whether the cause of an event is seen as constant over time or whether it is variable and likely to change.
In relationships, distress maintaining attributions are those where negative behavior by a partner is attributed to stable, internal, and controllable factors, such as believing a partner is inherently unkind or intentionally hurtful. These are typically associated with unhappy relationships. Conversely, relationship enhancing attributions are attributions for a partner's behavior that are unstable, external, and uncontrollable, such as attributing a partner's anger to having a bad day at work.