Beliefs about the Nature of Forgiveness and Avoidance of an Offender among Chinese College Students

Abstract

Previous research on beliefs about the nature of forgiveness (unconditional and conditional) has focused on their effects on health and well-being. However, little is known about how they influence victims' responses to interpersonal offenses. Given that avoidance is a common response to offenses during early adulthood, this study investigated the relationships between beliefs in unconditional and conditional forgiveness and avoidance of an offender among Chinese college students, the mediating role of forgiveness, and the moderating role of whether or not the offender explains the offense. Participants were 423 Chinese college students. They were asked to recall an unforgettable incident in which another person had offended them, and then completed the following measures: the offender's explanation, the belief in unconditional/conditional forgiveness, forgiveness, and avoidance of the offender. The study found that: (1) Victims' belief in unconditional forgiveness negatively predicts their avoidance of an offender, whereas their belief in conditional forgiveness positively predicts the avoidance of an offender. (2) Forgiveness mediates the relationships between beliefs in unconditional and conditional forgiveness and avoidance of an offender. (3) The offender's explanation moderates the relationships between the belief in conditional forgiveness and forgiveness, as well as avoidance of an offender.

Keywords: behavioral avoidance; belief about the nature of forgiveness; conditional forgiveness; explanation; forgiveness; interpersonal offense; unconditional forgiveness.

Figure 1

The hypothesized moderated mediation model.

Figure 2

Indirect pathway coefficients for the relationships between beliefs about the nature of forgiveness and avoidance of the offender via forgiveness, conditional on offender’s explanation. * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001.