The Sociogenesis of Psychological Disorder: An Attributional Theory

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Before social causation explanations of human psychological disorder can be considered plausible, the process by which social factors may affect the development of disorder must be made explicit in terms of a given theory. An attributional theory was formulated intended primarily to explain social status effects, although other applications are possible. The point of departure for this model is the socializing influence of SES [socioeconomic status] on causal attribution tendencies (i.e., fatalism) and the resulting variation in vulnerability to psychological disorder. Data from 2 panel studies suggest that causal attribution styles could in fact play a central role in the mediation of social causation of disorder. Comparisons of 2 contrasting versions of the attributional model show that a simple, linear interpretation of the intervening effects of fatalism may be the most adequate.