Abstract

The Purpose of this study is to test the covariance structural models that include the effects of attributions on marital satisfaction, partner evaluation, and intention to terminate marriage. This study propose a model that includes paths which attributions to spouse's behavior affect marital satisfaction and spouse evaluation directly on the one hand, and on the other hand, divorce intention via expectation that the spouse will show similar behavior indirectly. In order to test the fittness of this model and each detailed path, covariance structure analysis was performed using the data collected from 493 married people (male 246, female 247). The locus of spouse, dyad relationship, self-spouse, stability, globality, and intent were used as attribution dimensions of spouse behavior. The results revealed that this model was well-fitted to the data. among the specific examinations of the relationship, most of the hypotheses were confirmed. Unsupported hypotheses were as follow: The locus dimension in positive behavior and the dimension of both sides in negative behavior did not affect the evaluation of the significantly. While the locus dimension of positive behavior did not affect marital satisfaction and spouse evaluation, contrary to the hypothesis, the self-spouse attribution that measured only a part of the external endpoints did affect marital satisfaction and spouse evaluation. This result shows that if we use the locus dimension that includes external circumstance and the self, we neglect the important that should be considered in the relationship situation. It was suggested that we need further studies to deal with the effect of the attribution dimensions according to causal of attribution expanding the existing taxonomy of causality in causal attribution. Finally, the significance, implications, and limitations of this study were discussed, and topics to be investigated in the further study were mentioned.