Citation

Gerlach TM, Allemand M, Agroskin D, Denissen JJ. J. Pers. 2013; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Humboldt-University Berlin; International Max Planck Research School LIFE.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-6494.2011.00762.x

PMID

22224585

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to explore and better understand the relationship between justice sensitivity from a victim's perspective (JS-victim) and interpersonal forgiveness. In particular, we aimed to identify the cognitive mechanisms mediating this relationship and test the moderating influence of post-transgression perpetrator behavior. Method: We used data from a questionnaire study employing a Swiss community sample (N = 450) and two scenario-based studies employing German online samples, in the context of romantic (N = 242) and friendship relationships (N = 974). Results: We consistently found JS-victim to be negatively related to dispositional (Study 1) and situational forgiveness (Studies 2 and 3). Study 2 demonstrated the relationship between JS-victim and reduced forgiveness to be partly mediated by mistrustful interpretations of partner's post-transgression behavior. In Study 3 cognitions legitimizing one's own antisocial reactions and a lack of pro-relationship cognitions were identified as further mediators. These variables mediated the negative effect of JS-victim on forgiveness largely independent of whether the friend perpetrator displayed reconciliatory behavior or not. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the cognitive mechanisms mediating victim sensitive individuals' unforgiveness could barely be neutralized. Future research should investigate their malleability in light of qualitatively different perpetrator behaviors as well as their broader relational implications.

Language: en