This study examined the attributions of young adults about their relationships with their parents and intimate others. In addition to their attributional reports, participants also provided information about the quality of their intimate relationships. The findings indicated that higher relationship quality was related to attributions in ways that were consistent with attributional theory. In addition, attributional differences between current and past relationships suggested relationship-sustaining versus relationship-terminating attributional patterns. Attributions about intimate relationships also were associated with attributions about relationships with parents. Specifically, (a) the attributions that individuals made about the positive aspects of their relationships with their mothers and (b) and the attributions about the negative aspects of their relationships with their fathers were related to their attributions in their intimate relationship. The findings suggest some refinements in attribution theory regarding close relationships and introduce the value of exploring the intergenerational transmission of attributional patterns.
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