Dimensions of forgiveness: The views of laypersons

Abstract

Many conceptualizations of forgiveness currently exist in the forgiveness literature. The present study adds another perspective to the forgiveness discussion by investigating lay definitions of forgiveness, as well as reasons for forgiveness and nonforgiveness. In Study 1, undergraduate students completed a questionnaire packet in which they provided three narratives of interpersonal offense: a time when they had been hurt and then forgave the offender, a time when they had been hurt and did not forgive, and a time when they had hurt someone else and were forgiven. Respondents were also asked questions about their conceptualization of forgiveness and the factors that influence their decisions to forgive or not forgive. In Study 2, community adults participated in interviews during which they described a time when they had been betrayed or hurt. Following their story, participants answered questions about their definitions of and motivations for forgiveness. A number of important themes in forgiveness definition and motivation are identified, and important similarities and differences between the under-graduate and community samples are discussed. In particular, it is noted that primary motivations for forgiveness appear to be largely self-focused, rather than altruistic.

Experiences of Forgiveness Among Nonclergy Clients Receiving Residential Psychiatric Treatment

“…This is consistent with Brenneis's (2002) findings that most respondents seemed to understand forgiveness "as an emotional process that involved somehow releasing the painful effects of some experience" (p. 88). This is also in agreement with the findings of another study that asked college undergraduate students and adults from the community to define forgiveness (Younger, Piferi, Jobe, & Lawler, 2004).…”

Perdão conjugal: uma explicação a partir dos valores humanos

“…Contudo, foi possível verifi car que a subfunção existência apresentou uma correlação positiva e signifi cativa com a dimensão benevolência e o fator geral (Perdão Conjugal). Segundo alguns autores (Lawler--Row, Scott, Rains, Edlis-Matityahou, & Moore, 2007;Younger, Piferi, Jobe, & Lawler, 2004), as vítimas de ofensas podem compreender o perdão como um fator que venha a lhe proporcionar um bem-estar maior quando comparado com situações de intensa vivência de sentimentos negativos frente ao agressor, chegando a compreender a remissão como uma autocura.…”

Marital Forgiveness: An Explanation Based on Human Values

“…However, it is possible to verify that the existence subfunction shows a signifi cant positive correlation with the benevolence dimension and the general factor (marital forgiveness). According to some authors (Lawler-Row, Scott, Rains, Edlis-Matityahou, & Moore, 2007;Younger, Piferi, Jobe, & Lawler, 2004), victims of offenses may view forgiveness as a factor that will benefi t them more than situations of intense negative feelings toward the aggressor, coming to understand recovery as selfhealing.…”