Seeking Forgiveness: Considering the Role of Moral Emotions

Abstract

Sandage, Worthington, Jr., Hight, and Berry (2000) pointed out that most of the research on forgiveness has focused on the process of granting forgiveness rather than seeking forgiveness. Therefore, in this project, college students were asked to recall a recent event from their past where they harmed someone with whom they had a relationship. They were then asked to rate their feelings following the transgression such that it was possible to determine the extent to which they experienced sorrow or guilt (Narramore, 1984). Participants also indicated how they responded to the situation. In addition, a few weeks later, these same students were invited to respond to a dispositional measure designed to tap their general tendencies toward experiencing sorrow or guilt. One of the particularly interesting findings from this study was that the efforts to measure sorrow seemed to split into two factors. One of these sorrow factors seemed to predict healthy patterns of seeking forgiveness while the other factor did not.

Seeking Forgiveness: Factor Structure in Samples from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Southern Europe

“…In the study by Chiaramello et al (2008), the first factor was called inability in seeking forgiveness (ISF, e.g., I don't feel able to seek forgiveness even when I think that I am entirely responsible for the harm done). This factor was close to the "hardness of heart" factor suggested in Basset et al (2006). It was linked with trait-anger, paranoid tendencies (that are components of neuroticism), lack of agreeableness and openness, orientation to the past and self-punishment tendencies.…”

“…Finally, the third factor was called unconditional seeking of forgiveness (USF, e.g., My worldviews lead me to always seek forgiveness). This factor was close to the "seeking forgiveness" factor suggested in Basset et al (2006). It was mainly linked with agreeableness, and with orientation to the future.…”

“…The disposition to seek forgiveness has recently been examined (Basset, Basset, Lloyd, & Johnson, 2006;Chiaramello, Munoz Sastre, & Mullet, 2008), and a three-factor structure has been found, which closely paralleled similar factors that have been found regarding the willingness to grant forgiveness, also called forgivingness (Roberts, 1995). In the study by Chiaramello et al (2008), the first factor was called inability in seeking forgiveness (ISF, e.g., I don't feel able to seek forgiveness even when I think that I am entirely responsible for the harm done).…”

“…Previously, this three-factor structure has only been found in two Western European samples of adults from various ages (Chiaramello et al, 2008) and in one Northern American sample of students (Basset et al, 2006). The present study examined whether this three-factor structure also holds in samples from other parts of the world: Latin America (Brazil), Africa (Angola and Mozambique), Asia (Indonesia), and Southern Europe (Portugal).…”

“…This factor encompassed the "speaking the truth" factor suggested by Basset et al (2006); that is, both factors were about the circumstances of the offense (e.g., I feel it is easier to seek forgiveness when the harm done has clearly visible consequences for the person I have harmed). Sensitivity to circumstances was linked with cynicism and paranoid tendencies.…”