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Abstract

Some correlates of attributional style were investigated for a sample of 248 subjects (121 males, 127 females) L Subjects provided causal attributions for 16 items that sampled achievement and affiliation situations and positive and negative outcomes in equal amounts. They also rated the ascribed causes for internality, stability, and globality and subsequently they completed the Backman et al. Self-Esteem Scale, the Mirels and Garrett Protestant Ethic Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Analysis of both the rating data and the causes that subjects provided (classified as characterological, behavioral, and external) showed that a consistent syndrome existed involving depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and attributional style. In addition, Protestant Ethic (PE) values were associated with more frequent behavioral attributions but with less frequent external attributions. Behavioral attributions and PE values were uncorrelated with depression scores. Relation-ships between the types of causes ascribed to good and bad events and the ratings of these causes for internality, stability, and globality supported assumptions. They also suggest that self is seen as more consistent and wide-ranging in its effects when compared with the perceived causal influence of the situation.

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Some Correlates of Attributional Style

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