Experimental Research On The Role Of Safety Goals And Relationship Goals In Forgiveness

In contrast to sizeable researches on the features and effects of forgiveness, little attention has been paid to the mechanisms underlying forgiveness. And the majority of the existing research is co-relational or qualitative in nature, few experimental investigations have been conducted. Forgiveness is said to entail a shift in interpersonal motivation, affect, and focus, however, there is little empirical work exploring this process. The current study hypothesis that safety Goals and Relationship Goals play important roles in forgiveness. Part one modified the episodic forgiveness inventory developed by McCullough. Part two investigated the role of safety goals, relationship goals in forgiveness and measured the shift of affect and motivation by offense recollection and lexical decision task. Results showed that:(1) The modified episodic forgiveness inventory contains two motivational systems: avoidance and revenge.(2) The role of Relationship goals in forgiveness was proved, participants who received an increase in forgiveness had greater activation of the relationship goals.(3) Participants who recall offense by close others had greater activation of relationship goals, and more likely to forgive the offender. And no significant main effect of offender was found in safety goals.(4) Participants in the decreased forgiveness condition had higher levels of negative affect than those in the increased forgiveness condition.(5) Participants in the increased forgiveness condition had lower levels of avoidance and revenge motivation than those in the decreased forgiveness condition.(6) Participants who recall offense by close others experienced significantly more anxious, depress, and fatigue affect.