Multidimensional scaling of spouses' attributions for marital conflicts

Attributional dimensions for marital conflicts were derived using a multidimensional scaling of spouses' explanations for relationships problems. Four dimensions for husbands and four dimensions for wives were interpreted by using visual inspection and their relation to attributional dimensions drawn from the literature. Most of the dimensions reflected the locus of factors affecting relationship problems. However, the dimensions seemed to have additional meaning beyond the causal dimensions used in many past studies. Particularly noteworthy were dimensions (one for the husbands and one for the wives) that reflected attributions torelationship schism, or the “poor state of the relationship.” Additionally, one of the husbands' attributional dimensions reflected a denial of serious problems in the relationship. Initial evidence suggested that attributional dimensions in the present study were associated with marital distress. The results are interpreted in light of existing research, and the implications of the findings for future investigations are discussed.