Which term refers to explanations for events or behaviors; our interpretation of why something happened?

• A. Attributions
• B. Internal vs External
• C. Confirmation Bias
• D. Positive illustration

Answer: (A)

Attributions are the explanations people generate to account for why something happened or why someone behaved a certain way. They’re our interpretation of causality and play a big role in how we respond to events in relationships. Attribution theory often looks at whether causes are internal (dispositional) or external (situational), and this framing shapes our reactions and future behavior. For example, if a partner is late, you might see it as their forgetfulness (internal) or as traffic and an unavoidable delay (external). This distinction helps explain why we might react with blame or with understanding. The other options don’t fit as the overall term: internal vs external describes one dimension of attributions, confirmation bias is about seeking information that confirms preconceptions, and positive illustration isn’t a recognized term in this context.