TO FORGIVE OR NOT TO FORGIVE? BELIEFS ABOUT COSTS AND BENEFITS OF FORGIVENESS, MOTIVATION TO FORGIVE AND WELL-BEING

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between
beliefs about costs and benefits of forgiveness, motivation to
forgive and well-being. Motivation to forgive was measured by
TRIM Inventory consisting of three scales – avoidance, revenge
and benevolence motivation. Well-being was measured by Life
satisfaction scale and PANAS. The scales for measuring beliefs
about costs and benefits of forgiveness (CBFS) were specially
developed for this study. Two factors of beliefs about benefits of
forgiveness (benefits for oneself and benefits for the
other/relationship) and two factors of beliefs about costs of
forgiveness (failure to protect oneself and failure to educate the
offender) were revealed. Results of multiple regression revealed
two significant predictors of life satisfaction, belief in benefits of
the forgiveness for the other/relationship as positive predictor
and failure to protect oneself as cost of forgiveness as negative
predictor. Failure to protect oneself and revenge motivation
were positive predictors, and belief in benefits of the
forgiveness for the other/relationship was negative predictor of
negative affect. There were no significant predictors of positive
affect. Results suggest that believing in benefits of forgiveness
rather than in costs can improve our well-being by increasing
life satisfaction and lowering negative affect.