Dealing with betrayal in close relationships: does commitment promote forgiveness?
This work complements existing research regarding the forgiveness process by highlighting the role of commitment in motivating forgiveness. On the basis of an interdependence-theoretic analysis, the authors suggest that (a) victims' self-oriented reactions to betrayal are antithetical to forgiveness, favoring impulses such as grudge and vengeance, and (b) forgiveness rests on prorelationship motivation, one cause of which is strong commitment. A priming experiment, a cross-sectional survey study, and an interaction record study revealed evidence of associations (or causal effects) of commitment with forgiveness. The commitment-forgiveness association appeared to rest on intent to persist rather than long-term orientation or psychological attachment. In addition, the commitment-forgiveness association was mediated by cognitive interpretations of betrayal incidents; evidence for mediation by emotional reactions was inconsistent.
Finkel
Eli J
EJ
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. eli@andrew.cmu.edu
Rusbult
Caryl E
CE
Kumashiro
Madoka
M
Hannon
Peggy A
PA
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*