Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships
01 Aug 1997-Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (American Psychological Association)-Vol. 73, Iss: 2, pp 321-336
TL;DR: Evidence is found consistent with the hypotheses that the relationship between receiving an apology from and forgiving one's offender is a function of increased empathy for the offender and that forgiving is uniquely related to conciliatory behavior and avoidance behavior toward the offending partner.
Abstract: Forgiving is a motivational transformation that inclines people to inhibit relationship-destructive responses and to behave constructively toward someone who has behaved destructively toward them. The authors describe a model of forgiveness based on the hypothesis that people forgive others to the extent that they experience empathy for them. Two studies investigated the empathy model of forgiveness. In Study 1, the authors developed measures of empathy and forgiveness. The authors found evidence consistent with the hypotheses that (a) the relationship between receiving an apology from and forgiving one's offender is a function of increased empathy for the offender and (b) that forgiving is uniquely related to conciliatory behavior and avoidance behavior toward the offending partner. In Study 2, the authors conducted an intervention in which empathy was manipulated to examine the empathy-forgiving relationship more closely. Results generally supported the conceptualization of forgiving as a motivational phenomenon and the empathy-forgiving link.
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01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, it is proposed that the psychological mediators that determine forgiveness exist because of our evolutionary history, and the survival need that humans have for groups, and how forgiveness, apologies, and social norms serve to facilitate the maintenance of the integrity of these groups.
Abstract: It is proposed that the psychological mediators that determine forgiveness exist because of our evolutionary history. The survival need that humans have for groups, and how forgiveness, apologies, and social norms serve to facilitate the maintenance of the integrity of these groups is discussed. The prominence of forgiveness teachings across a number ofreligions is used to show the historical importance of forgivenessfor civilization. Then perceived remorse which affects perceptions of the relative stability of behavior, and emotional empathy which affects the desire for reconciliation, are identified as the two prominent psychological mechanisms thatfacilitateforgiveness in (respectively), acquaintance and close personal relationships. Why we appear to have evolved different psychological mechanisms to facilitate forgiveness in different types of relationships is discussed in terms of the needs of the group versus the demands of child rearing in close personal relationships. It is concluded that both of these mechanisms ensure that transgressors are forgiven so that relationships can continue with the ultimate result that survival is enhanced. The natural world is a harsh and unforgiving place. Because of this, over time as a species, we have evolved various strategies that have increased each individual's chances of survival. One of the most successful of these strategies is the human propensity to form social relationships. The ability to form relationships with others provides us with the opportunity to align ourselves with groups of others to accomplish tasks that would otherwise be
6 citations
Cites background from "Interpersonal forgiving in close re..."
...Since these motivations are theorized to be facilitated by feelings of empathy for one's partner when they have transgressed (McCullough et al. 1997), it appears that empathy serves a powerful evolution ary purpose: it functions to keep couples together when one member has transgressed....
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...(1998) noted that in addition to empathy, other factors such as relationship closeness and emo tions such as love, compassion and trust (McCullough et al. 1997) play an important role in forgiveness in close relation ships....
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...Building on work by Batson, McCullough et al. (1997) looked at forgiving in close relationships....
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Dissertation•
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: Kaminer et al. as discussed by the authors examined the degree to which giving TRC testimony is related to current psychiatric status and forgiveness attitudes among survivors of human rights abuses, and found that giving private or public testimony was not associated with lower rates of psychiatric disorder and may in fact be associated with an increased risk of PTSD for some participants.
Abstract: TRUTH COMMISSION TESTIMONY: RELATION TO PSYCHIATRIC STATUS AND FORGIVENESS AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN SURVIVORS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Unlike preyious truth commissions, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) adopted a victim-centred testimony approach that currently serves as a model for truth commissions in other countries. While the TRC has claimed that testifYing resulted in psychological healing and forgiveness for deponents, to date this has not been systematically assessed. The present study aimed to examine the degree to which giving TRC testimony is related to current psychiatric status and forgiveness attitudes among survivors of human rights abuses. A literature review examined the degree to which the TRC's claims are supported by the existing theoretical and empirical literature on trauma narratives and on forgiveness, and guided the way that psychological outcomes were assessed in the current study. Sunivors (n=134) who gave public, private or no testimony to the TRC completed standardised instruments measuring demographic variables, exposure to human rights abuses, current psychiatric status and forgiveness attitudes towards the perpetrator(s). Chi-square and log-linear analyses indicated that giving private or public testimony was not associated with lower rates of psychiatric disorder (specifically, depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders) and may in fact be associated with an increased risk of PTSD for some participants. While a one-way ANOV A test indicated that there was no significant difference in mean forgiveness scores between the three groups, a polarisation in forgiveness attitudes was present among deponents who gave public testimony. Exploration of moderating factors through two-way ANOV A tests and regression analysis indicated that this polarisation is associated with the type of violation about which participants gave public testimony, A subsequent analysis of public testimony transcripts, which utilised techniques from grounded theory as well as statistical comparison, generated the hypothesis that polarised forgiveness attitudes are associated with the type of response that participants received from the truth commission panel at the public hearings. Specifically, a commission response entailing individualising acknowledgement was received by participants who testified about being tortured, and was associated with a very forgiving attitude towards the perpetrators, while a response entailing a lack of individualising acknowledgement was received by participants Un ive rsi ty of Ca pe To wn who testified about the killing of a frunily member through political violence, and was associated with an unforgiving attitude. Possible interpretations of these fmdings are considered in light of the methodological limitations of the study, the lessons learned from this exploratory study in a new area of research are illustrated, and recommendations for truth commission research and practice, and for forgiveness theory and research, are offered. Debra Kaminer January 2005 II Un ive rsi ty of Ca pe To wn
6 citations
Cites background from "Interpersonal forgiving in close re..."
..., 1989; Girard & Mullet, 1997; Weiner, Graham, Peter & Zmuidinas, 1991), perhaps due to the empathy that arises when the offender is perceived by the victim to be experiencing guilt and emotional distress as a result of becoming aware of the hurtful consequences of their actions (Baumeister, Stillwell & Heatherton. 1994; McCullough et al., 1997)....
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6 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a notion of hope is adopted to analyse the effects of collective apologies on forgiveness, which results from the combination of possibility and desirability and, in turn, promotes forgiveness.
6 citations
TL;DR: Forgiveness Scale developed to obtain the data was adapted from TRIM and has been tested for its reliability and validity using the Rasch model as mentioned in this paper, which showed an insignificant difference in forgiveness but showed a significant difference in lessen-avoidance motivation.
Abstract: It has been repeatedly documented in the scientific literature that culture plays an important role in forgiveness. However, research of mountainous, highland, lowland and coastal culture related to forgiveness was rare. The goal of this study was to describe the comparison of forgiveness among Javanese ethnic students who had been raised in mountainous, highland, lowland, and coastal culture background. Forgiveness Scale developed to obtain the data was adapted from TRIM and has been tested for its reliability and validity using the Rasch model. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis (H) test, and MannWhitney (U) posthoc test were used to analyze the data. The result showed an insignificant difference in forgiveness but showed a significant difference in lessen-avoidance motivation. This finding had practical implications in multicultural counselling, especially in promoting forgiveness to various counselees. For a more comprehensive understanding, further research in forgiveness motives is required.
6 citations
References
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TL;DR: Two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) are developed and are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period.
Abstract: In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented.
34,482 citations
TL;DR: A new coefficient is proposed to summarize the relative reduction in the noncentrality parameters of two nested models and two estimators of the coefficient yield new normed (CFI) and nonnormed (FI) fit indexes.
Abstract: Normed and nonnormed fit indexes are frequently used as adjuncts to chi-square statistics for evaluating the fit of a structural model A drawback of existing indexes is that they estimate no known population parameters A new coefficient is proposed to summarize the relative reduction in the noncentrality parameters of two nested models Two estimators of the coefficient yield new normed (CFI) and nonnormed (FI) fit indexes CFI avoids the underestimation of fit often noted in small samples for Bentler and Bonett's (1980) normed fit index (NFI) FI is a linear function of Bentler and Bonett's non-normed fit index (NNFI) that avoids the extreme underestimation and overestimation often found in NNFI Asymptotically, CFI, FI, NFI, and a new index developed by Bollen are equivalent measures of comparative fit, whereas NNFI measures relative fit by comparing noncentrality per degree of freedom All of the indexes are generalized to permit use of Wald and Lagrange multiplier statistics An example illustrates the behavior of these indexes under conditions of correct specification and misspecification The new fit indexes perform very well at all sample sizes
21,588 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1958TL;DR: The psychology of interpersonal relations as mentioned in this paper, The psychology in interpersonal relations, The Psychology of interpersonal relationships, کتابخانه دیجیتال و فن اطلاعات دانشگاه امام صادق(ع)
Abstract: The psychology of interpersonal relations , The psychology of interpersonal relations , کتابخانه دیجیتال و فن آوری اطلاعات دانشگاه امام صادق(ع)
15,254 citations
Additional excerpts
...Social psychologists have also addressed interpersonal forgiving from time to time (Darby & Schlenker, 1982; Gahagan & Tedeschi, 1968; Heider, 1958; Horai, Lindskold, Gahagan, & Tedeschi, 1969; Weiner, Graham, Peter, & Zmuidinas, 1991)....
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TL;DR: A scale of current subjective distress, related to a specific event, was based on a list of items composed of commonly reported experiences of intrusion and avoidance, and responses indicated that the scale had a useful degree of significance and homogeneity.
Abstract: Clinical, field, and experimental studies of response to potentially stressful life events give concordant findings: there is a general human tendency to undergo episodes of intrusive thinking and periods of avoidance. A scale of current subjective distress, related to a specific event, was based on a list of items composed of commonly reported experiences of intrusion and avoidance. Responses of 66 persons admitted to an outpatient clinic for the treatment of stress response syndromes indicated that the scale had a useful degree of significance and homogeneity. Empirical clusters supported the concept of subscores for intrusions and avoidance responses.
7,692 citations
TL;DR: The Dyadic Adjustment Scale as discussed by the authors is a measure for assessing the quality of marriage and other similar dyads, which is designed for use with either married or unmarried cohabiting couples.
Abstract: This study reports on the development of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, a new measure for assessing the quality of marriage and other similar dyads. The 32-item scale is designed for use with either married or unmarried cohabiting couples. Despite widespread criticisms of the concept of adjustment, the study proceeds from the pragmatic position that a new measure, which is theoretically grounded, relevant, valid, and highly reliable, is necessary since marital and dyadic adjustment continue to be researched. This factor analytic study tests a conceptual definition set forth in eariler work and suggests the existence of four empirically verified components of dyadic adjustment which can be used as subscales [dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion, dyadic consensus and affectional expression]. Evidence is presented suggesting content, criterion-related, and construct validity. High scale reliability is reported. The possibility of item weighting is considered and endorsed as a potential measurement technique, but it not adopted for the present Dyadic Adjustment Scale. It is concluded that the Dyadic Adjustment Scale represents a significant improvement over other measures of marital adjustment, but a number of troublesome methodological issues remain for future research.
6,899 citations