Forgivingness: An Angolan-Portuguese Comparison

Abstract

Forgiveness can be considered on multiple levels, from those interpersonal incidents that are contextualized to a dispositional trait form that transcends individual injustices. Three distinct aspects of forgivingness (dispositional forgiveness) have been recently put forward: (a) Lasting resentment; that is, the difficulty at escaping the unforgiveness state, by avenging or forgiving or choosing another path, (b) Sensitivity to the circumstances of the offence, that is, responding to the offender's apologies or to the pressures of others to forgive or not forgive, (c) and overall Propensity to forgive. This study explored the factor structure of forgivingness in an Angolan sample, and compared Angolan and Portuguese students' forgiveness scores. The same three-factor structure (lasting resentment, sensitivity to circumstances, and willingness to forgive) that was evidenced in European samples was evidenced in the Angolan sample. Willingness to forgive scores, as expected, was higher among Angolan students than among Portuguese students. Lasting resentment was higher among Portuguese students than among Angolan students. However, contrary to our expectations, sensitivity to circumstances was also higher among Portuguese students than among Angolan students. These results contrast with what researchers have observed in previous studies.