Explanatory Style

Front Cover
Gregory McClell Buchanan, Martin E.P. Seligman
Routledge, Apr 23, 2014 - Psychology - 320 pages
This is the first work to condense the large literature on explanatory style -- one's tendency to offer similar sorts of explanations for different events. This cognitive variable has been related to psychopathology, physical health, achievement and success. Compiled by experts in the fields of depression, anxiety, psychoneuroimmunology and motivation, this volume details our current level of understanding, outlines gaps in our knowledge, and discusses the future directions of the field.

Data from a vast number of studies are presented, including results from studies not previously reported. Coverage includes sections on cross-cultural comparisons, life-span and development issues, and gender differences; and an extensive description of the measurement of explanatory style offering questionnaire and content-analysis methods for children, college populations and adults. This work is thus a valuable tool for anyone involved in research on the etiology and treatment of depression, cognitive therapy, motivation and emotion, and the link between physical and psychological well-being.
 

Contents

History and Evolution of the Field
1
2 The Measurement of Explanatory Style
21
Trust as a Determinant of Optimism and Pessimism
49
4 Explanatory Style and Achievement Depression and Gender Differences in Childhood and Early Adolescence
57
5 The Role of Causal Attributions in the Prediction of Depression
71
6 Explanatory Style in the Treatment of Depression
99
7 Hopelessness Depression
113
8 Explanatory Style in Anxiety and Depression
135
11 Pessimistic Rumination in American Politics and Society
187
12 Explanatory Style in the Context of Culture
209
13 Explanatory Style and Coronary Heart Disease
225
14 Explanatory Style and Health
233
The Future of the Field
247
References
253
Author Index
281
Subject Index
293

9 Explanatory Style and Achievement in School and Work
159
10 Sports and Explanatory Style
173

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2014)

Gregory McClell Buchanan, Martin E.P. Seligman

Bibliographic information