title: No such thing as genuine forgiveness?
abstract: McCullough et al. propose adaptations that motivate forgiveness when the potential benefits of continuing the relationship outweigh the costs incurred by the transgression. The costs incurred are definite, whereas future benefits of forgiveness are only probabilistic. This situation exposes the forgiver to cheating in the form of repeat transgression. Adaptations motivating genuine forgiveness are therefore unlikely to evolve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA. mgmccoy@oakland.edu
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Todd K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Shackelford
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D061347:Forgiveness; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation