---
title: "Explanatory Style — AP Psych Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Explanatory style is your habitual way of explaining good and bad events. In AP Psych it links attribution theory to depression risk and CBT in Topic 8.4."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/explanatory-style"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
---

# Explanatory Style — AP Psych Definition & Exam Guide

## 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 Study Guides

- [8.4 Bipolar, Depressive, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders](/ap-psych-revised/unit-8/bipolar-depressive-anxiety-obsessive-compulsive-disorders/study-guide/0CSNp2uWDMmXMIAa60ND)
- [Unit 8 Overview: Clinical Psychology](/ap-psych-revised/unit-H4RhjYOHdoqh7GF7/review/study-guide/5rDoqmdS9JIQ38pWYk3J)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Attribution Theory](/ap-psych-revised/key-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](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/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.