When forgiving enhances psychological well-being: the role of interpersonal commitment.
The present research addresses the question of when and why forgiving might enhance psychological well-being. The authors predict that forgiving is associated with enhanced well-being but that this association should be more pronounced in relationships of strong rather than weak commitment. This hypothesis received good support in Studies 1-3. Studies 2 and 3 addressed the issue of why forgiving might be associated with psychological well-being, revealing that this association was reduced after controlling for psychological tension (i.e., a psychological state of discomfort due to conflicting cognitions and feelings). Study 4 revealed that in the context of marital relationships, tendencies toward forgiving one's spouse exhibited a more pronounced association with psychological well-being than did tendencies to forgive others in general.
Karremans
Johan C
JC
Department of Social Psychology, Free University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. j.karremans@fss.uu.nl
Van Lange
Paul A M
PA
Ouwerkerk
Jaap W
JW
Kluwer
Esther S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology