For whom we forgive matters: relationship focus magnifies, but self-focus buffers against the negative effects of forgiving an exploitative partner
| dc.contributor.author | Gabriels, J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Strelan, P. | |
| dc.date.issued | 2018 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Increasingly, studies indicate that victims experience negative outcomes after forgiving offenders who present an exploitation risk. However, we demonstrate that the link between exploitation risk and forgiveness-related outcomes is dependent upon a victim's focus of forgiving. Two studies, the first employing a prospective design (N = 110) and the second an experimental scenario method (N = 261), replicate previous research on the negative effects of exploitation risk and also test two new hypotheses. First, we found that forgiving explicitly for the sake of a relationship is associated with greater distress, relative to deciding to forgive for the sake of the self. Second, we found that relationship-focussed forgiveness magnified the distress caused by exploitation risk, whereas self-focussed forgiveness, relative to relationship-focussed forgiveness, provides a buffer against it. In short, these findings demonstrate that for whom we forgive matters. We discuss theoretical and practical implications for understanding when forgiving is costly. | |
| dc.description.statementofresponsibility | Jordan Brian Gabriels and Peter Strelan | |
| dc.identifier.citation | British Journal of Social Psychology, The, 2018; 57(1):154-173 | |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.1111/bjso.12230 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0144-6665 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2044-8309 | |
| dc.identifier.orcid | Strelan, P. [0000-0002-3796-1935] | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2440/116394 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Wiley | |
| dc.rights | © 2017 The British Psychological Society | |
| dc.source.uri | https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12230 | |
| dc.subject | Forgiveness; exploitation risk; functional analysis; costs; distress; forgiveness‐focus; motivation; relationship forgiveness; self‐forgiveness | |
| dc.title | For whom we forgive matters: relationship focus magnifies, but self-focus buffers against the negative effects of forgiving an exploitative partner | |
| dc.type | Journal article | |
| pubs.publication-status | Published |