while the intrapersonal benefits of self-forgiveness have begun to be explored, there is little empirical research to suggest how self-forgiveness relates to the offenders' interpersonal restoration. Furthermore self-forgiveness research has been limited by reliance on cross-sectional designs and measures that assess self-forgiveness as an end-state (i.e., a positive self). the present research adopts a process-oriented approach and conceptually distinguishes between three possible responses to the self following an interpersonal transgression: self-punitiveness, pseudo self-forgiveness and genuine self-forgiveness. Study 1, using a prospective design, indicates the limitations of end-state measures in that these fail to capture genuine self-forgiveness, and provides preliminary evidence of the benefits of genuine self-forgiveness for intrapersonal (self-esteem) and interpersonal restoration (empathy). Study 2, again with a prospective design but based on an extended measure of the tri-partite self-forgiveness concept, considered a wider range of indicators of intrapersonal and interpersonal restoration of a transgressor. results suggest that both self-punitive and pseudo self-forgiving responses have no benefits for restoration, but some negative implications for both intra and interpersonal restoration. in contrast, genuine self-forgiveness (involving effort to work through one's offense, responsibility taking, and self-acceptance while acknowledging failure) is associated with positive restorative outcomes for both the offender and their victim.

Measures of self‐forgiveness that merely focus on the outcome of positive self‐regard risk neglecting the process through which offenders restore it. They may thus tap pseudo self‐forgiveness where offenders downplay their responsibility for the wrongdoing. For genuine self‐forgiveness, the process should instead involve an attenuation of the negative link between responsibility acceptance and positive self‐regard. In this paper, we examine how acts of value reaffirmation facilitate genuine self‐forgiveness. In Study 1, a role‐play experiment (N = 90), participants either confessed their wrongdoing to the victim or not. Although responsibility acceptance was strongly negatively related to reported self‐forgiveness (i.e., self‐regard), this relationship was tempered when participants confessed their wrongdoing to the victim and, through this, reaffirmed the violated values. In Study 2, a longitudinal study referring to self‐reported transgressions (N = 74), responsibility acceptance was negatively related to self‐forgiveness measures as well as self‐esteem when offenders showed little value reaffirmation, but not when they more strongly reaffirmed the violated values. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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