How do people from Central Visayas think about the causes of political problems? A survey (n=120) of households (k=2) from the province of Bohol (N=234) looked into respondents' causal attribution for political problems along with its dimensions and correlates and their relationships with the political attitudes of cynicism and efficacy.

Results revealed that respondents judged the cause of political problems as internal and uncontrollable but were undecided about its stability. Their indecision about the stability of the cause correlated significantly with their GMA-specific political cynicism, suggesting a wait-and-see attitude toward anti-GMA initiatives. Respondents' internal locus was significantly correlated with an increase in cynicism, efficacy and controllability.

Their penchant for an internal locus may be their way of making sense of a chaotic political environment by refusing to entertain factors over which they have minimal command. A positive significant association was also found between cynicism and efficacy, contrary to previous studies. Given respondents' internal attribution, this sense of efficacy amidst cynicism could be an example of a positive illusion that enabled them to have a sense of control.

(As provided by author)