In cognitive psychology, an adaptive explanatory style explains negative events in terms that are:

• A. permanent, global, and internal
• B. temporary, specific, and external
• C. permanent, specific, and external
• D. temporary, global, and internal

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of explanatory style in cognitive psychology, which refers to how individuals explain the causes of events, especially negative ones.
2. Step 2: Recognize that an adaptive explanatory style is generally associated with more positive psychological outcomes, such as resilience and better coping strategies.
3. Step 3: Identify the three dimensions used to describe explanatory styles: permanence (temporary vs. permanent), pervasiveness (specific vs. global), and locus (internal vs. external).
4. Step 4: Recall that an adaptive explanatory style explains negative events as temporary (not permanent), specific (not global), and external (not internal), which helps individuals avoid negative self-judgments and maintain motivation.
5. Step 5: Compare the given options to these criteria and select the one that matches temporary, specific, and external as the characteristics of an adaptive explanatory style.