Attributional processes in distressed and nondistressed couples: 3. Causal and evaluative inferences for spouse behavior. Manuscript submitted for publication

Attributions for marital difficulties are examined in couples seeking therapy and in a community sample. Seventy-four spouses rated their two most important marital difficulties on several dimensions and indicated the extent to which they blamed their spouse for the difficulties. Distressed spouses were more likely to see their partner and the relationship as the source of their difficulties, to perceive the causes of their difficulties as more global, and to consider the causes as more reflective of their spouses ' negative attitude toward them. The results are discussed in terms of the assessment of attributions in relationships, and their implications for marital therapy are outlined. For some time cognitive therapists have examined the utility of attribution theory and research for understanding the acquisi-tion, maintenance, and remediation of clinical problems (cf. Fincham, 1983; Forsterling, 1980). Recently, this interest has manifest itself in the area of marital therapy as both practitioners and researchers have begun to emphasize the importance of attributions in marital dysfunction (e.g., Baucom, 1981