Explanatory Style

Definition

Explanatory style is a psychological attribute that indicates how people explain to themselves why they experience a particular event, either positive or negative.

Related terms

Attribution Theory:

This is the theory about how people make causal explanations. It's like being a detective for your own behavior and experiences, trying to figure out why things happened.

Optimism:

This is an emotional attitude that hopes for the best possible outcome in every situation. It's like always seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty.

Pessimism: This is an inclination to expect the worst possible outcome. It's like constantly expecting it to rain even when there are no clouds in sight.