Significant interpersonal offenses have considerable consequences for the victim, and these sequelae can be both negative and positive. Spiritual transformation and forgiveness are two processes that may follow a significant interpersonal offense. Spiritual transformation, which includes both spiritual gain and spiritual decline, is an important experience for many individuals following a highly stressful event. Likewise, forgiveness is one way that individuals may cope with the negative effects of being the victim of an interpersonal offense. Both spiritual transformation and forgiveness are related to physical and mental health. Given the prevalence of interpersonal offenses, the mental health link, and the personal importance of religion and spirituality to many individuals, it is imperative to understand these processes. However, the extant literature offers very little about the relationship between spiritual transformation and forgiveness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of forgiveness in experiencing spiritual transformation following significant interpersonal offenses. Participants were 146 individuals that had been "significantly wronged" by another person. Participants provided information on demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, event-related distress, forgiveness, and spiritual transformation. Descriptive data are presented as well as correlates of spiritual transformation. Results showed that spiritual growth was positively related to religious and spiritual importance but not forgiveness variables. Event-related distress and avoidance, one component of unforgiveness, were positively related to spiritual decline. Regression analyses revealed that forgiveness did not uniquely account for a significant amount of the variance in spiritual growth after controlling for demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, and event-related distress. Rather, religious and spiritual importance accounted for a significant amount of variance in spiritual growth. Forgiveness uniquely predicted spiritual decline after accounting for demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, and event-related distress. This study suggests a complex relationship between spiritual transformation and forgiveness. Results are discussed within the context of implications for clinicians and researchers alike.

Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Following interpersonal transgressions, victims? neuroticism and agreeableness have been previously associated with post-conflict anxiety and forgiveness. However, the perceptions that victims have about their transgressors? personalities have received little attention. The current investigation examined relationships between victims? neuroticism and agreeableness, their perceptions of their transgressors? agreeableness, and postconflict anxiety and affiliative motivation measured via plasma cortisol and oxytocin as well as self-reports of post-conflict anxiety and forgiveness in premenopausal women. Victims who perceived their transgressors as more agreeable reported lower post-conflict anxiety, experienced less plasma cortisol reactivity following a simulated speech to the transgressor, and more self-reported forgiveness. Exploratory analyses also revealed that forgiveness was negatively associated with oxytocin reactivity.

In this project I evaluated the effect of social dominance on reconciliation and forgiveness. Based on studies of nonhuman primates, it was hypothesized that humans would be more likely to accept and reciprocate conciliatory gestures when made by more socially dominant people. It was also hypothesized that the moderating effect of relative dominance on a victim?s decision to forgive would not be as strong as relative dominance?s effect on a victim?s decision to reconcile. This hypothesis was based on the expectation that reconciliation is most essential for gaining access to transgressor-controlled resources. However, conciliatory gestures by less dominant transgressors more effectively elicited forgiveness and reconciliation, as these gestures were evidently more successful at making victims feel safe. Also, relative dominance did not have a greater effect on victims? conciliatory behaviors than on forgiveness.

Humility is widely accepted as a character strength or virtue, yet very little research has been done as to its development or benefits, partly due to the lack of a reliable and valid explicit measure or scale. Since to date no such scale has been published, the current study investigates the importance and nature of humility and develops a measure to be analyzed as to its reliability and validity. Potential scale items were derived from participants’ recollection of humbling experiences and Tangney’s (2000) definition of humility. Principal Components Analysis revealed four humility subscales: openness, self-forgetfulness, accurate self-assessment, and focus on others. Results suggest that the derived 13-item scale has good concurrent and divergent validity, and that three of the four principal components have acceptable reliability. Researchers can use information from the Humility scale to better understand how it relates to other concepts of positive psychology and how increasing humility might be advantageous to interpersonal relationships.

Although research has begun to examine the factors which facilitate forgiveness in romantic relationships, there is currently limited empirical research examining the partner behaviours which promote or alternatively thwart forgiveness in romantic relationships. I examined the role of perceived partner responsiveness (showing understanding and validation) in mediating the link between offers of amends and forgiveness for real-life hurtful events. Results showed that perceived partner responsiveness emerged as a key predictor of forgiveness and as an important mediator of the relationship between amends and forgiveness. This meditational model was further moderated by event severity and relationship satisfaction, such that at high levels of event severity and low levels of relationship satisfaction, both amends and responsiveness showed unique, positive direct effects on forgiveness. Finally, exploratory analyses indicated that not all forgiveness-seeking behaviours are “created equal”—verbal behaviours that directly address the hurtful event appear to convey sincere amends and responsiveness while those behaviours (verbal and non-verbal) which do not directly address the hurtful event undermine forgiveness.

Although research has begun to examine the factors which facilitate forgiveness in romantic relationships, there is currently limited empirical research examining the partner behaviours which promote or alternatively thwart forgiveness in romantic relationships. I examined the role of perceived partner responsiveness (showing understanding and validation) in mediating the link between offers of amends and forgiveness for real-life hurtful events. Results showed that perceived partner responsiveness emerged as a key predictor of forgiveness and as an important mediator of the relationship between amends and forgiveness. This meditational model was further moderated by event severity and relationship satisfaction, such that at high levels of event severity and low levels of relationship satisfaction, both amends and responsiveness showed unique, positive direct effects on forgiveness. Finally, exploratory analyses indicated that not all forgiveness-seeking behaviours are “created equal”—verbal behaviours that directly address the hurtful event appear to convey sincere amends and responsiveness while those behaviours (verbal and non-verbal) which do not directly address the hurtful event undermine forgiveness.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 12, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-95).

Thesis (M.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2002. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2776. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-60).

Thesis (D. Phil.(Psychotherapy))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.