Empathy, Selfism, and Coping as Elements of the Psychology of Forgiveness: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This research expanded understanding of forgiveness by (a) distinguishing forgiveness from unforgiveness and their respective correlates (empathy and selfism) and (b) examining coping style and its impact on the process of forgiveness and unforgiveness. Participants were 92 students in a large northeastern urban public university. Correlates of forgiveness and unforgiveness were distinctly different. With respect to forgiveness, 42% of the variance was explained by the variables under study. Emotion‐focused coping was associated with forgiving. Clinically relevant issues were raised, specifically regarding the role of selfism and emotion‐focused coping and contextual variables such as financial resources, age, gender, and religiosity.

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