Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 8 of 8
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Apology And Restitution: The Psychophysiology Of Forgiveness After Accountable Relational Repair Responses, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Lindsey M. Root Luna, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Jo-Ann Tsang
Apology And Restitution: The Psychophysiology Of Forgiveness After Accountable Relational Repair Responses, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Lindsey M. Root Luna, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Jo-Ann Tsang
Faculty Publications
Apology and restitution each represents wrongdoers’ accountable repair responses that have promoted victims’ self-reported empathy and forgiveness in crime scenario research. The current study measured emotional and stress-related dependent variables including physiological measures, to illuminate the links between predictors of forgiveness and health-relevant side effects. Specifically, we tested the independent and interactive effects of apology and restitution on forgiveness, emotion self-reports, and facial responses, as well as cardiac measures associated with stress in 32 males and 29 females. Apology and restitution each independently increased empathy, forgiveness, gratitude, and positive emotions, while reducing unforgiveness, negative emotion, and muscle activity above the …
Positive Reappraisals After An Offense: Event-Related Potentials And Emotional Effects Of Benefit-Finding And Compassion, Justin C. Baker, John K. Williams, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Peter C. Hill
Positive Reappraisals After An Offense: Event-Related Potentials And Emotional Effects Of Benefit-Finding And Compassion, Justin C. Baker, John K. Williams, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Peter C. Hill
Faculty Publications
Using a within subjects design, three emotion regulation strategies (compassion‐focused reappraisal, benefit‐focused reappraisal, and offense rumination) were tested for their effects on forgiveness, well‐being, and event‐related potentials (ERPs). Participants (N = 37) recalled a recent interpersonal offense as the context for each emotion regulation strategy. Both decisional and emotional forgiveness increased significantly for the two reappraisal strategies compared to offense rumination. Compassion‐focused reappraisal prompted the greatest increase in both decisional and emotional forgiveness. Furthermore, both reappraisal strategies increased positively oriented well‐being measures (e.g., joy, gratitude) compared to offense rumination, with compassion‐focused reappraisal demonstrating the largest effect on empathy. Late positive …
Trait Forgiveness And Enduring Vulnerabilities: Neuroticism And Catastrophizing Influence Relationship Satisfaction Via Less Forgiveness, Scott R. Braithwaite, Cindy M. Mitchell, Edward A. Selby, Frank D. Fincham
Trait Forgiveness And Enduring Vulnerabilities: Neuroticism And Catastrophizing Influence Relationship Satisfaction Via Less Forgiveness, Scott R. Braithwaite, Cindy M. Mitchell, Edward A. Selby, Frank D. Fincham
Faculty Publications
Two studies examine whether specific cognitive tendencies and underlying personality traits inhibit the tendency to forgive and, in turn, decrease relationship satisfaction among emerging adults in committed romantic relationships (median relationship duration 1–2 years). In Study 1 (N = 355), trait forgiveness had a positive, direct association with later relationship satisfaction and mediated the effect of neuroticism on relationship satisfaction. In Study 2 (N = 354), forgiveness had a positive, direct association with relationship satisfaction and mediated the association between catastrophic rumination and relationship satisfaction. Forgiveness mediated changes in relationship satisfaction over time, with greater trait forgiveness predicting higher relationship …
Forgiveness And Relationship Satisfaction: Mediating Mechanisms, Scott R. Braithwaite, Edward A. Selby, Frank D. Fincham
Forgiveness And Relationship Satisfaction: Mediating Mechanisms, Scott R. Braithwaite, Edward A. Selby, Frank D. Fincham
Faculty Publications
Although the ability to forgive transgressions has been linked to overall relationship satisfaction, the mechanisms that mediate this association have not been established. We propose that the tendency to forgive a romantic partner increases relationship satisfaction via increased relational effort and decreased negative conflict. In two studies, we used structural equations modeling to examine these variables as potential mechanisms that drive this association. In Study 1 (N = 523) and Study 2 (N = 446) we found that these variables significantly mediated the association between forgiveness and relationship satisfaction. The findings were robust when examined concurrently and longitudinally, across multiple …
Retributive Justice, Restorative Justice, And Forgiveness: An Experimental Psychophysiology Analysis, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Everett L. Worthington, Lindsey M. Root, Amy F. Sato, Thomas E. Ludwig, Julie J. Exline
Retributive Justice, Restorative Justice, And Forgiveness: An Experimental Psychophysiology Analysis, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Everett L. Worthington, Lindsey M. Root, Amy F. Sato, Thomas E. Ludwig, Julie J. Exline
Faculty Publications
This experiment assessed the emotional self-reports and physiology of justice outcomes and forgiveness responses to a common crime, using a three Justice (retributive, restorative, no justice) × 2 Forgiveness (forgiveness, none) repeated-measures design. Participants (27 males, 29 females) imagined their residence was burglarized, followed by six counterbalanced justice–forgiveness outcomes. Imagery of justice—especially restorative—and forgiveness each reduced unforgiving motivations and negative emotion (anger, fear), and increased prosocial and positive emotion (empathy, gratitude). Imagery of granting forgiveness (versus not) was associated with less heart rate reactivity and better recovery; less negative emotion expression at the brow (corrugator EMG); and less aroused …
The Implications Of Conjunctive And Disjunctive Forgiveness For Sexual Abuse, Herbert W. Helm, Jonathan R. Cook, John M. Berecz
The Implications Of Conjunctive And Disjunctive Forgiveness For Sexual Abuse, Herbert W. Helm, Jonathan R. Cook, John M. Berecz
Faculty Publications
This article examines the relationship between forgiveness styles (conjunctive and disjunctive models) and sexual abuse. Surveys from 114 university students were analyzed for differences between non-sexually abused and sexually abused subjects on a number of psychological and physical well-being variables. A number of differences were found including higher levels of reported verbal and physical abuse for the sexually abused subjects. Only one sexually abused subject was found that fit the pattern of conjunctive forgiveness (one of reconciliation) towards the offender. The majority of sexually abused subjects preferred to keep their distance from the abuser, regardless of the extent to which …
Please Forgive Me: Transgressors’ Emotions And Physiology During Imagery Of Seeking Forgiveness And Victim Responses, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Thomas Ludwig, David J. Bauer
Please Forgive Me: Transgressors’ Emotions And Physiology During Imagery Of Seeking Forgiveness And Victim Responses, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Thomas Ludwig, David J. Bauer
Faculty Publications
We assessed transgressors’ subjective emotions and physiological responses in a within-subjects imagery study involving 20 male and 20 female participants. Two imagery conditions focused on the transgressor’s actions: participants 1) ruminated about a real-life transgression and 2) imagined seeking forgiveness from the victim. Three imagery conditions focused on the victim’s possible responses: participants imagined their victims responding with 1) a grudge, 2) genuine forgiveness, and 3) reconciliation. Compared to ruminations about one’s transgression or an unforgiving response from the victim, imagery of forgiveness-seeking and merciful responses from victims (forgiveness and reconciliation) prompted improvements in basic emotions (e.g., sadness, anger) and …
Granting Forgiveness Or Harboring Grudges: Implications For Emotion, Physiology, And Health, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Thomas Ludwig, Kelly L. Vander Laan
Granting Forgiveness Or Harboring Grudges: Implications For Emotion, Physiology, And Health, Charlotte Vanoyen-Witvliet, Thomas Ludwig, Kelly L. Vander Laan
Faculty Publications
Interpersonal offenses frequently mar relationships. Theorists have argued that the responses victims adopt toward their offenders have ramifications not only for their cognition, but also for their emotion, physiology, and health. This study examined the immediate emotional and physiological effects that occurred when participants (35 females, 36 males) rehearsed hurtful memories and nursed grudges (i.e., were unforgiving) compared with when they cultivated empathic perspective taking and imagined granting forgiveness (i.e., were forgiving) toward real-life offenders. Unforgiving thoughts prompted more aversive emotion, and significantly higher corrugator (brow) electromyogram (EMG), skin conductance, heart rate, and blood pressure changes from baseline. The EMG, …