Which attributional style is characterized by internal, stable attributions for negative events?

The pessimistic explanatory style is characterized by making internal and stable attributions for negative events. This means individuals with this style tend to believe that negative outcomes are due to personal factors that they perceive as unchangeable and permanent, such as their own abilities or traits. This attribution style often leads to feelings of helplessness and may contribute to anxiety or depression, as individuals see themselves as the cause of negative events that will persist over time.

In contrast, an optimistic explanatory style typically involves attributing negative events to external, unstable factors, allowing individuals to maintain a more positive self-view and recover more easily from setbacks. Defensive attribution focuses on a psychological mechanism where individuals attribute blame to others to protect themselves from feeling vulnerable, and situational attribution emphasizes external circumstances that influence outcomes rather than personal characteristics.