In this context, it is useful to distinguish between attributions of responsibility
for the problem and attributions of responsibility for the solution
to the problem (Brickman et al., 1982). Attribution theory assumes
that people often engage in self-serving attributions. Consequently, exspouses
are unlikely to see themselves as being solely responsible for the
problems that led to the breakdown of the marriage. On the other hand, because
feelings of control help people to cope with difficult events, exspouses
may see themselves as having taken the initiative in seeking the
divorce (that is, as having accepted responsibility for the solution to the
problem). In general, although attributing the cause of the divorce to internal
factors should be associated with poorer adjustment, wanting the divorce
more than the spouse should be associated with better adjustment,
and individuals who attribute the cause of the divorce to their former
spouses and the initiation of the divorce to themselves should have the
most positive adjustment of all.