Explanatory Style (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Explanatory style is a psychological attribute that indicates how people explain to themselves why they experience a particular event, either positive or negative. Psychologists have identified three components in explanatory style: Personal. People experiencing events may see themselves as the cause; that is, they have internalised the cause for the event. Example: "I always forget to make that turn" (internal) as opposed to "That turn can sure sneak up on you" (external). This involves how one explains where the cause of an event arises. Permanent. People may see the situation as unchangeable, e.g., "I always lose my keys" or "I never forget a face." This involves how one explains the extent of the cause. Pervasive. People may see the situation as affecting all aspects of life, e.g., "I can't do anything right" or "Everything I touch seems to turn to gold." This involves how one explains the extent of the effects.