Relationship attributions are not universal: cultural variation in levels and links with satisfaction

Abstract

How individuals explain their partner’s behavior is a key cognitive process in romantic relationships. These “relationship attributions” have been consistently linked with relationship quality, but most evidence comes from Western, individualistic contexts. The cultural psychology literature suggests that attributional processes are shaped by broader cognitive and social norms, raising questions about their universality in close relationships. In a pre-registered, cross-cultural design, individuals in romantic relationships from Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States ( N = 2,347) reported on causal and responsibility attributions and relationship satisfaction. We tested country-level differences in levels of attributions and whether the association between attributions and satisfaction was moderated by country. Mean levels of causal and responsibility attributions differed significantly: Taiwanese participants reported the highest levels, followed by Turkey, the U.S., and Spain. Higher levels of causal and responsibility attributions were associated with lower satisfaction in all countries, but the strength of this association varied: it was strongest in Turkey and the U.S., moderate in Spain, and weakest in Taiwan. Relationship attributions are thus culturally patterned in both degree and function. These findings underscore the importance of integrating cultural context into theories of relationship cognition and caution against assuming the universality of attribution–satisfaction links.