Description

The Relationship Attribution Measure (RAM-18) is a psychometric instrument developed by F. D. Fincham and T. N. Bradbury to assess the attributions and interpretations individuals make regarding negative behaviors exhibited by their romantic partner or spouse. The version described here was adapted into Greek by M. Tsagarakis and A. Stalikas.

The theoretical basis of the RAM focuses on the idea that relationship functioning is influenced not only by a partner’s actual behavior but also by the way this behavior is interpreted, explained, and attributed. When an undesirable interpersonal event occurs, individuals may form judgments about why their partner behaved in a particular way and about the degree to which the partner should be considered responsible or blameworthy for that behavior.

The questionnaire presents six hypothetical negative partner behaviors. An example provided in the instrument is a situation in which the partner begins spending less time with the respondent. Participants are asked to imagine that their own romantic partner has displayed each behavior and then consider possible explanations for it.

For each hypothetical behavior, respondents evaluate six statements using a six-point Likert scale. Three statements assess interpretations concerning the cause of the behavior, while the remaining three examine perceptions of the partner’s responsibility for the behavior. This structure allows the RAM to distinguish between causal explanations and judgments regarding responsibility or blame.

The instrument is particularly relevant to research in relationship psychology, marital and couple research, counseling psychology, social psychology, adult attachment, interpersonal cognition, and relationship satisfaction.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the Relationship Attribution Measure are analyzed through two principal dimensions: Causal Attribution (RAM-C) and Responsibility Attribution (RAM-R). This distinction provides a more detailed understanding of how individuals cognitively interpret negative events occurring within intimate relationships.

The RAM-C dimension evaluates explanations concerning the causes of the partner’s negative behavior. These judgments concern the respondent’s interpretation of why the partner acted in a particular way, including whether the behavior is perceived as originating from characteristics of the partner, such as personality, character, or mood.

The RAM-R dimension evaluates judgments concerning the partner’s responsibility for negative behavior, including the degree to which the respondent believes that the partner should be held responsible or blamed for the event.

In research applications, descriptive statistics can be calculated separately for RAM-C and RAM-R. The resulting scores may subsequently be examined through correlations, group comparisons, regression models, or other multivariable statistical procedures when investigating relationships between attributional patterns and variables such as relationship satisfaction, conflict, attachment, emotional functioning, or coping strategies.

Research conducted in Greece indicates that more negative evaluations or interpretations of a partner’s behavior are associated with lower relationship satisfaction and greater use of dysfunctional coping strategies when dealing with negative partner behaviors.

The RAM can therefore contribute to understanding the cognitive processes through which individuals interpret interpersonal difficulties and how these interpretations may relate to the broader quality and functioning of romantic relationships.

Objective

The primary objective of the Relationship Attribution Measure (RAM-18) is to assess the views and attributions individuals construct regarding their romantic partner’s negative behaviors within a relationship or marriage.

More specifically, the instrument differentiates between interpretations concerning why a negative behavior occurred and judgments concerning the extent to which the partner is responsible or blameworthy for that behavior.

This distinction provides a structured framework for investigating interpersonal attribution processes within intimate relationships. The instrument may therefore be useful in studies examining relationship satisfaction, marital adjustment, conflict, adult attachment, interpersonal perceptions, emotional processes, and coping with relationship difficulties.

Scoring

Participants respond to the statements associated with each hypothetical negative behavior using a six-point Likert scale ranging from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 6 = Strongly Agree.

Scoring is organized into two principal subscales: Causal Attribution (RAM-C) and Responsibility Attribution (RAM-R). Each subscale consists of 18 statements, derived from the six hypothetical partner behaviors, with three relevant statements associated with each behavior.

The score for each subscale is calculated using the average of the corresponding item scores. Thus, RAM-C and RAM-R provide separate quantitative indicators of the respondent’s attributional tendencies concerning negative partner behavior.

Interpretation should focus on the direction and intensity of the attributional pattern represented by each subscale rather than treating the RAM as a general measure of relationship quality. The scores specifically represent how respondents interpret and assign responsibility for negative interpersonal events.

Validity

Evidence from research conducted in Greece supports the validity of the Relationship Attribution Measure. Findings indicate that individuals who make more negative evaluations and interpretations of their partner’s actions tend to report lower levels of relationship satisfaction and greater use of dysfunctional strategies for coping with negative partner behaviors.

These associations are theoretically consistent with the construct assessed by the RAM and provide support for its use in examining attributional processes within romantic relationships.

Reliability

The Greek version of the RAM demonstrates high internal consistency for both dimensions. The reported Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.88 for the Causal Attribution subscale (RAM-C) and 0.91 for the Responsibility Attribution subscale (RAM-R).

These coefficients indicate good to excellent internal consistency, supporting the reliability of the two subscales for assessing causal and responsibility attributions concerning negative partner behaviors.

References

Fincham, F. D., & Bradbury, T. N. (1992). Assessing Attributions in Marriage: The Relationship Attribution Measure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 457–468.

Tsagarakis, M., & Stalikas, A. (2005, December). Interpretations of Negative Behaviors in Romantic Partners: The Effect of Positive Emotions and Adult Attachment. Presentation at the 10th Panhellenic Conference on Psychological Research, Ioannina.