Forgiveness as human strength: Theory, measurement, and links to well-being
Abstract
Forgiving promotes continuity in interpersonal relationships by mending the inevitable injuries and transgressions that occur in social interaction. This article presents a conceptual model positing that forgiveness is prosocial change in the motivations to avoid or to seek revenge against a transgressor. Social-psychological factors that are correlates and determinants of forgiving are reviewed. Also reviewed is the current measurement technology for assessing forgiveness constructs at the offense-specific level, the relationship-specific level, and the dispositional level. The links between forgiveness and human health and well-being are also explored. The article concludes with recommendations for future research on forgiving.
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Forgiveness is facilitated by helping clients focus on four important unifying factors: empathy, humility, commitment and apology.
“Forgiveness is facilitated by helping clients focus on four important unifying factors: empathy, humility, commitment and apology (McCullough, 2000;Worthington, 1998).”
From Facilitating forgiveness in the treatment of infidelity: an interpersonal model (2013) · cites this paper as McCullough, 2000
Abandoning angry feelings is fundamental to forgiveness.
“Abandoning angry feelings also appears to be fundamental to forgiveness (Berry et al., 2005; Enright, 2001; McCullough, 2000).”
From Gratitude and forgiveness: convergence and divergence on self-report and informant ratings. (2010) · cites this paper as McCullough, 2000
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- Authors
- McCullough, M. E.
- Corresponding author
- McCullough, Michael E.
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Guilford Publications
- Published
- 2000-03
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 43-55
- ISSN
- 0736-7236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2171232954
- Cited by
- 604
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 9.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Keywords
- forgiveness, interpersonal relationships, transgression, revenge, avoidance motivation, prosocial behavior, dispositional forgiveness, health and well-being, conceptual model
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