The Development of a New Self-Report Behavioural Measure of Forgiveness and Revenge
Date
2022
Authors
Hilferty, Anna
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Thesis
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Abstract
Although human beings are driven by an inherent desire for connection, we, quite counterintuitively, often act in selfish ways that actively harm our relationships with each other. Thus, our ability to forgive and be forgiven is central to the successful functioning of our relationships (Rowe et al., 1989). Despite forgiveness attracting research attention for upwards of 30 years, there is currently no psychometrically sound self-report measure of forgiveness and revenge behaviours. Thus, the aim of this study is to validate a new behavioural measure of forgiveness and revenge. Participants (N = 371) were asked to recall a time in the last 30 days when they were hurt by their partner, and indicated whether they had performed a number of forgiving or vengeful behaviours towards them since the offence occurred. Various existing forgiveness measures, transgression-specific variables and trait-level variables were also collected. Participants were then asked a second time about their behaviours towards their partners 20 days after the initial survey. Through confirmatory factor analysis, the new behavioural measure was found to fit a two-factor structure, indicating forgiveness and revenge. The new measure demonstrated good construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Analysis also indicates a positive relationship between forgiveness and revenge behaviours, suggesting that individuals can act in both a forgiving and vengeful manner following a transgression. This new measure of forgiveness and revenge behaviours is hoped to expand the nomological network of forgiveness, and provide a means of measuring performed behaviours in real-world transgressions.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2023
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