An Investigation of Forgiveness-seeking Communication and Relational Outcomes

Douglas L. Kelley · Vincent R. Waldron

98 citations0/0 files storedCommunication Quarterly

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Forgiveness and Related Behaviors Attachment and Relationship Dynamics Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies

Abstract

Therapists and theologians claim that the process of forgiveness is essential to the restoration of damaged relationships, but this possibility has received limited empirical attention. Furthermore, the role of an offender's communicative behavior in the forgiveness process remains understudied. This project first analyzed an inductively derived list of communication behaviors to develop a taxonomy of forgiveness-seeking approaches used by 186 romantic partners. These were interpreted with reference to face-management, uncertainty reduction, and rule-negotiation approaches to relationship recovery. Associations between the types of forgiveness-seeking communication and several different measures of post-transgression relationship change were examined. Results indicated that relationships recovered significantly when offending partners used behaviors labeled as explicit acknowledgment, nonverbal assurance, and compensation. Significant communicative effects remained after the effects of transgression severity were controlled. Results are interpreted as partially supportive of the assumption that forgiveness-seeking communication facilitates recovery from relational damage.

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References

1997Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships.2000Forgiveness: Theory, research, and practice.2001Advances in Psychology Research 1992Relational maintenance strategies and equity in marriage 1999The Psychology of Unforgiveness and Forgiveness and Implications for Clinical Practice 1991The moral development of forgiveness.2002Forgiveness in Marriage: Implications for Psychological Aggression and Constructive Communication 1987Strategies for Maintaining and Repairing Marital Relationships

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