Explanatory and Attributional Styles by Min Khian Tan

 Introduction: What do we know?

Psychologists have found that a maladaptive explanatory (or attributional) style is an important factor that predicts learned helplessness. So, what do these words mean?  Let’s break these terms down bit-by-bit:

Maladaptive Explanatory Style

The term “maladaptive” essentially means “bad”. Think about it: anything that allows us to adapt to our environment (adaptive) is considered good because it ensures survival. On the contrary, things that lead us to “not-adapt” (maladapt) would be perceived as bad. 

Explanatory style is the way which someone explains to themselves WHY a situation happens to them. here are three dimensions of explanatory style, including:

1. stable/unstable

2. global/specific

3. internal/external

To better explain each of these dimensions, we’ll describe them in terms of a hypothetical event, e.g. failing one’s exam:

1. The terms “stable/unstable” refer to continuity →  whether or not an event is likely to repeat itself. If one describes the event of “failing one’s exam” as “stable”, it suggests that the person believes this event would repeat in the future (they will fail their exams again and again). On the flip side, perceiving this event as “unstable” would mean the event is not likely to happen again (they will not fail a second time);

2. The terms “global/specific” refer to generalizability →  whether or not an event is likely to generalize to other events. If one describes the event of “failing one’s exam” as “global”, it suggests that the person thinks this event would generalize to many other events (other than this exam, they will also fail in many other exams). On the other hand, perceiving this event as  “specific” would mean the event is not likely to generalize to other events (they will fail only this exam, and not any other exams);

3. Finally, the terms “internal/external” refer to attribution →  whether or not the person themselves are to blame for an event. If one describes the event of “failing one’s exam” as “internal”, it suggests that the person thinks this event happened because of themselves (e.g. “I am stupid”, “I have no talent”). An “external” attribution however, would lead the person to explain this event in terms of situational factors (e.g. “I failed because the exam was too hard”).

By looking at the dimensions of explanatory style, it is then straightforward to identify examples of a maladaptive explanatory style. A person with a maladaptive explanatory style would describe a bad event as being stable, global and internal, while a good event as unstable, specific and external. In contrast, a person with an adaptive explanatory style would describe a bad event as being unstable, specific and external, and a good event as stable, global, internal. 

Learned Helplessness

As the name suggests, learned helplessness is when a person feels helpless. More specifically, it is a state that a person is in after experiencing an intensely stressful event. This state encomposses a number of dimensions, including passivity, cognitive deficits (inability to think properly), sadness, lowered self-esteem and lowered assertiveness and competitiveness. Learned helplessness is also associated with depression. It is not a state we want to be in. 

Having defined each of these terms, it should be self-evident that a maladaptive explanatory (or attributional) style is an important factor that predicts learned helplessness. 

Discussion: Now what?

The psychologists in this paper examined a number of children who had a variety of explanatory styles. They found that children with a maladaptive explanatory style are likely to have more depression and achievement problems. While it may then appear that a maladaptive explanatory style is the cause of depression, it is important to also note that a maladaptive explanatory style could simply be a symptom of depression. That is, the child would have a maladaptive explanatory style because he is already depressed. As such, a maladaptive explanatory style is not only associated with concurrent (existing) depression, it can also predict future, higher levels of depression! This is not to say however, that anyone who has a maladaptive explanatory style is depressed or will have depression. Rather, the message conveyed is that a maladaptive style is one, of the very many, possible causes of depression.  

Conclusion: What we can take home!

Amidst our busy schedules, it is always important to take a step back and examine HOW we are thinking about everything that happens around us, as well as anything that impacts us. One tip you might find helpful (that I personally use) is asking yourself questions: 

1. Did this happen because of my own doing, or because of some factors out of my control (is this internal or external)? 

2. Is this likely to happen again (is this stable or unstable)?

3. Will other events be similar to this event (is this global or specific?) 

These questions allow us to engage in deeper and more rational thinking. It is critical that we always think clearly and rationally as failing to do so may  be a precursor of negative emotions!

Good luck! My hope is that we are all keeping well and safe! :) 

Reference

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Girgus, J. S., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1986). Learned helplessness in children: A longitudinal study of depression, achievement, and explanatory style. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(2), 435-442. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.2.435