Using a sample of 40 Angle American family members of schizophrenic pa
tients, the present study replicates and lends cross-cultural support
for an attribution-affect model of expressed emotion (EE). Consistent
with attribution theory, the authors found that highly critical relati
ves (high-EE) viewed the illness and associated symptoms as residing m
ore within the patient's personal control as compared with less critic
al relatives (low-EE). A content analysis classified the types of beha
viors and symptoms most frequently criticized by relatives. Symptoms r
eflecting behavioral deficits (e.g., poor hygiene) were found to be cr
iticized more often than symptoms reflecting behavioral excesses (e.g.
, hallucinations). In line with an attribution-affect framework, relat
ives may be less tolerant of behavioral deficits because they are view
ed as intentional, whereas behavioral excesses are easily recognized a
s core symptoms of mental illness.