Forgiveness among Conflict-forced Displaced People in Nigeria: The Effects of Time and their Hosts Support for Retaliation

Abstract

Forgiveness has been implicated in revenge, conflict resolution, peace building, and post-conflict adjustment. The extent to which victims’ level of forgiveness is associated with hosts’ support for retaliation and time since displacement, especially in Nigeria, has not been adequately investigated. This study, investigated the extent to which hosts’ support for retaliation (not supportive; supportive; highly supportive) and period of displacement (less than 7 months; 7–12 months; more than 12 months) affected the victims’ level of forgiveness. Participants were 499 (male=224; female=274) victims of conflict-forced displacement between January, 2010 and December, 2012. Results showed that hosts’ support for retaliation significantly influenced victims’ level of forgiveness; victims whose hosts were highly supportive of retaliation showed the lowest level of forgiveness. Time since displacement also significantly influenced forgiveness; those who were displaced less than 7 months were the least forgiving compared with those who were displaced 7-12 months or for more than 12 months. Finally, hosts’ support for retaliation and time since displacement had a significant joint influence on forgiveness; victims who were recently displaced and stayed with hosts who were highly supportive of retaliation showed the least level of forgiveness compared with those were either displaced 7-12 months or more than 12 months ago and were housed by hosts that were either supportive or not supportive of retaliation. It was recommended that mediation efforts should focus more on the activities of hosts in the wake of the conflict up to 7 months in order to increase victims’ level of forgiveness.