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Attribution processes in mother-adolescent conflict

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Abstract

Attributions reported by 115 mothers and 122 adolescents were examined as they related to family conflict. Subjects completed measures of parent-adolescent conflict (Issues Checklist, Conflict Behavior Questionnaire) and the Mother-Adolescent Attribution Questionnaire. The results revealed that parent-adolescent conflict correlated with mothers' and teenagers' negative attributions. Specifically, self-reported conflict was positively correlated with mothers' and teenagers' beliefs that one another's negative behavior was intentional, selfishly motivated, and blameworthy.

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Grace, N.C., Kelley, M.L. & McCain, A.P. Attribution processes in mother-adolescent conflict. J Abnorm Child Psychol 21, 199–211 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00911316

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