Understanding Forgiveness Research Articles

When chatbots make errors: Cognitive and affective pathways to understanding forgiveness of chatbot errors

This study aims to investigate whether individuals can forgive chatbots for their errors as they do for humans. Drawing on the contrasting theoretical frameworks of Computer are Social Actors (CASA) and machine heuristic in the Human-AI interaction (HAII), the study examines individuals’ forgiveness towards errors made by chatbots with different levels of anthropomorphism. Specifically, this study focuses on the affective and cognitive pathways in shaping individuals’ forgiveness towards chatbots. An online experiment (N = 580) with a two (anthropomorphism levels: low vs. high) × two (chatbot types: task-oriented vs. relationship-oriented) between-subjects design was conducted. Results indicated that compared to chatbots with low anthropomorphism, those with high anthropomorphism tend to elicit greater forgiveness for their errors. The effects of anthropomorphism on forgiveness to chatbot errors were mediated both through the affective route, by mitigating perceived severity and emotional aversion, and through the cognitive route, by attributing errors more to the users themselves. Our study also reveals the complex nature of forgiveness responses to chatbot errors, which are influenced by the specific context in which the chatbot is used. The theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Absolution: Divine and Human

This article is a contribution to an ecumenical theology of the Word, examining how divine absolution is realized in concrete human experience. It addresses both the scriptural and sacramental mediation of divine absolution, emphasizing the commonality of both resting on the power of God's word spoken in human concrete actuality. The philosophical literature concludes that human beings, in order for forgiveness to be real to them, need to hear and know that they are forgiven. In other words, for forgiveness to be complete, the wrongdoer requires an act of “absolution” (even in a secular sense), which may be verbal or gestural. This observation then drives our theological inquiry. How does divine Providence condescend in the economy of Revelation to make divine absolution available in the concrete details of human life, since it must be available to us, if it is to be received and accepted and be real to us? This investigation assumes that understanding forgiveness in human experience better serves to enrich theological reflection on divine forgiveness. The fact that forgiveness in human experience is primarily a dialogical affair, worked out in a “dialogical narrative” (Griswold) that parallels the dialogical nature of salvation, is evidenced in Scripture. In scriptural mediation, divine absolution becomes a living reality through a “hermeneutic of identity” by which the hearer of the Word appropriates the indexical language of a text, and, for example, self-inserts into a ready-made dialogue. In this way, God's absolution is effectively made a present reality. Finally, the article argues that Christ's words should be considered among his salvific acts, including his absolutions of individual sinners. The immanent expression of divine absolution, therefore, comes through the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in historical concreteness, providing one avenue of response to the timeless theological question Cur Deus homo?

The Christian concept of forgiveness and religious education facing the problem of individualism

ABSTRACT The analysis undertaken in this article pertain to the challenge faced by education, which consists of overcoming the negative aspects of contemporary individualism, such as the building of instrumental relationships by people maturing in a culture permeated with it. Consequently, there is limited responsibility taken for the other people co-creating these relationships. The author puts forward the thesis that the Christian concept of forgiveness is an appropriate point of reference for reflection on the nature of interpersonal relationships and the issue of responsibility for other people, even when they are weak and their behaviour is the cause of disappointment and regret. The main part of the analysis was devoted to understanding forgiveness, which is the essence of the Christian attitude and, at the same time, the subject of many controversies. However, from the analysis of excerpts from the Bible, it was concluded that the often-raised doubts about the moral value of forgiveness are a consequence of identifying God’s forgiveness with decisions made by people and an erroneous understanding of the relationship between forgiveness and repentance. The dispelling of these doubts was a premise for the statement that it can become the basis of contemporary social and moral education.

A meta-analysis of forgiveness education interventions' effects on forgiveness and anger in children and adolescents.

Forgiveness education interventions instruct children and adolescents in understanding forgiveness and its role in healthy relationships. In this meta‐analytic review, 20 studies involving 1472 youth (51% female; M age = 11.66) from 10 countries (studies: 40% North American, 25% East Asian, 20% Middle Eastern, 15% European) were retrieved to determine forgiveness education interventions’ effects on youth outcomes. Hedges’ g and confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess treatment effects. Findings suggest that forgiveness education interventions have a significant positive effect on forgiveness (g = 0.54, 95% CI [0.36, 0.73]) and anger (g = 0.29, 95% CI [0.11, 0.47]). Results lend support to the idea that children and adolescents who experience hurt from the unjust actions of others may benefit from learning about the process of forgiveness.

Forgiveness: Moving on can be healthy.

Forgiveness as a procedure has been gaining prominence. The objective of this article is to provide the basics of forgiveness as an intervention so primary care clinicians can facilitate its use. These clinicians include but are not limited to physicians, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacy professionals, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, case managers, and clergy. This narrative explains the rationale for understanding forgiveness as a procedure and ways to explain it. To assist clinicians and patients in making informed decisions, samples of forgiveness research are included that describe its positive relationship to specific physical health situations. The article also describes an evidence-based forgiveness therapy, circumstances in which it is harmful to forgive oneself or others, describes the limitations of this article, and suggests future directions.

The Feminine (He)Art of Caring and the Power of Feminine Divine as New Ethics of Peace and Ecojustice

AbstractThe article addresses the question of how femininity and the maternal body are also important in shaping the discourse of giving, forgiving, and caring (also in caring for nature). Consideration of a view of the maternal body as signification, conceived of as an embodiment of ethics, is investigated. To bear someone like a maternal body suggests that one need not be a mother, or even a woman, to bear responsibility for the Other (including nature). Cultivation of giving and forgiving as embodied experience and examination of inter‐connectedness of giving and forgiving from an ecofeminist perspective are explored. Cultivation of loving hearts and living through our hearts as a feminist principle, and the possibility of understanding forgiveness as transcending anger through an act of love, is understood as a virtue. In this way forgiveness as love directly furthers self‐interest through serving the welfare of others, including nature.

When Forgiveness Signals Power: Effects of Forgiveness Expression and Forgiver Gender.

Forgiveness has been regarded as a sign of power, yet empirical evidence is mixed. This research seeks to resolve this inconsistency by looking into how and from whom forgiveness is expressed. Integrating theories on forgiveness, communication, and gender role, we hypothesized and found, in two experiments, that a third party's perception of forgiver power is jointly influenced by forgiveness expression (explicit vs. implicit) and forgiver gender. Female forgivers were perceived as less powerful than their male counterparts when forgivers expressed implicit forgiveness, whereas this gender difference was not found when forgivers expressed explicit forgiveness. Perceived forgiver power, in turn, positively influenced third parties' cooperation with the forgiver in subsequent interaction. This research represents an initial step to understanding forgiveness from a communication perspective. It demonstrates the social implications of forgiveness on uninvolved third parties. Our findings also resonate with several others in showing that forgiveness does not always yield interpersonal benefits.

Is the concept of forgiveness universal? a cross-cultural perspective comparing western and eastern cultures

To understand the conceptualizations of forgiveness more comprehensively, both the cognitive and emotional aspects of forgiveness were investigated across different cultures. Two studies examined cultural similarities and differences in the conceptualizations of forgiveness. In Study 1, we compared idioms of the Chinese and English languages. In Study 2, we compared transgression-related writings between Hong Kong Chinese and Americans. In Study 1 (N = 204), we found that the basic presumptions of forgiveness (i.e., the recognition of transgression and the idea of cancelling debt) were similar across cultures. The cognitive dimension of forgiveness (which involves virtues that preserve social relationships) was more frequently observed in Chinese idioms than English idioms. In Study 2 (N = 68), we found that similar emotional responses (e.g., shame and guilt) arose across cultures following one’s own wrongdoing. Chinese writers were more likely to adopt higher cognitive processing in understanding forgiveness than American writers, as was reflected in their writings.

Interpersonal Dynamics of Forgiveness

Although emerging scholarship has highlighted the potential benefits of workplace forgiveness, most of the research to date has failed to capture the complexity of this dynamic phenomenon; scholars typically construe forgiveness as a relatively simple prosocial victim sentiment, a passive response in reaction to the severity of the transgression and the appropriate amends of the harm-doer. In contrast, the current symposium examines forgiveness as a complex process that evolves as a result of the dynamic interplay between the transgression context (e.g., features of the offense, nature of the work context, third-party involvement) and the individuals involved (e.g., victim’s disposition, offender’s disposition, and the nature of the relationship between them). Individual victims are also not passive recipients of apologetic acts, but motivated actors who engage with their offenders to achieve specific psychological goals. Five forgiveness scholars from research teams across the globe (USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and Germany) will present their most recent empirical findings relevant to understanding forgiveness as an unfolding and dynamic process. Specifically, the research presented attempts to better capture the complex interplay between the victim, the offender, the relationship between them, and the importance of the embedded context. By tackling this complexity, all five papers expand our understanding of forgiveness, illustrating the interactions that can occur between these various factors. Following the presentations, the audience is engaged in an interactive discussion, with particular emphasis on gaining greater conceptual coherence within forgiveness research and promoting future scholarship that can better capture the complexity of the forgiveness phenomenon. Coping with Leader Social Undermining: The Role of Employee Forgiveness Presenter: Ryan Fehr; U. of Washington, Seattle Presenter: Payal Nangia Sharma; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Impediments to Forgiveness: Victim and Transgressor Attributions of Intent and Guilt Presenter: Gabrielle Adams; London Business School Presenter: M. Ena Inesi; London Business School Forgiveness as Revenge in Disguise? Offering Forgiveness to Offenders Diminishes their Moral Status Presenter: Tyler G. Okimoto; U. of Queensland Presenter: Mario Gollwitzer; Philipps U. of Marburg The Effect of Social Power and Apology on Victims' Post-Transgression Responses Presenter: Ward Struthers; York U. Presenter: Careen Khoury; York U. Presenter: Elizabeth Van Monsjou; York U. Presenter: Joshua Robert Guilfoyle; York U. Enhancing Trust and Forgiveness via Shame Displays: A Social Functional Perspective Presenter: Ivona Hideg; Wilfrid Laurier U. Presenter: Laurie J. Barclay; Wilfrid Laurier U. Presenter: Teodora Makaji; Wilfrid Laurier U.

Clearing Up Client Confusion Regarding the Meaning of Forgiveness: An Aristotelian/Thomistic Analysis With Counseling Implications

Although the construct of forgiveness is popular in research and counseling, there remains considerable confusion surrounding this topic. This article examines the likely errors clients may bring to counseling regarding the meaning of forgiveness. The author uses an Aristotelian/Thomistic perspective to analyze error in understanding forgiveness and concludes that client misunderstanding and the resultant fear of attempting to forgive are oftentimes rooted not in understanding forgiveness itself, but instead in focusing on 1 of 2 vices surrounding that construct. The author recommends bringing this misunderstanding to clients so that they can better decide for themselves whether or not to forgive others.

Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Spirituality

The words ‘forgiveness’ and ‘reconciliation’ are used loosely today and bear a variety of sometimes overlapping meanings. Many believe that the words have come into Western usage from the Judaeo-Christian religious tradition. This paper shows that they have not, though undoubtedly the Christian tradition has shaped the modern understanding of and approach to the interpretation of these words. This paper suggests how the language of forgiveness and reconciliation, understood specifically in the manner of Paul, might be developed as a useful tool for understanding forgiveness and reconciliation as part of human spirituality that is not necessarily within the Christian religious tradition.

Collectivistic Self‐Construal and Forgiveness

This study tested a theoretical model of the relationship between collectivism and forgiveness. Participants (N= 298) completed measures of collectivistic self‐construal, forgiveness, and forgiveness‐related constructs. A collectivistic self‐construal was related to understanding forgiveness as an interpersonal process that involved reconciliation. Individuals with more collectivistic views reported higher trait forgivingness, which predicted the tendency to respond to specific offenses with decisional rather than emotional forgiveness. Individuals with a more collectivistic self‐construal may place more value on interpersonal harmony, reconciliation, and decisions to forgive rather than emotional peace. Implications suggest that counselors understand issues of conflict, hurts, and forgiveness within an assessment of clients’ self‐construal.

Interventions to Promote Forgiveness in Couple and Family Context: Conceptualization, Review, and Analysis

Forgiveness interventions have not been adapted for children, couples, families, and also specifically with Christians. Conceptualization and theorizing have lagged empirical studies. We use a stress-and-coping conceptualization of forgiveness to provide a framework for understanding forgiveness in family context, especially with Christians. Although several evidence-based interventions to promote forgiveness have been developed, few have targeted children, early adolescents, parents, families, and Christians. However, most will likely resonate with Christian beliefs and values and can be adapted to Christian families. More target high school adolescents and couples. Most are adaptations of (a) Enright's process model of forgiveness, (b) Worthington's emotional forgiveness through the REACH Forgiveness program, (c) DiBlasio's Decision-based model, and (d) Worthing-ton's Forgiveness and Reconciliation through Experiencing Empathy—FREE—model. Such interventions need to be manualized and studied empirically to determine their efficacy in family context.

Can There Be a Forgiveness That Makes a Difference Ecologically?

The article considers master/slave relations in the Gospel of Luke as a background for understanding forgiveness (as ἄϕεσις) ecologically. I draw on the work of ecophilosopher Val Plumwood, who identifies a master/slave dynamic operating in a logic of colonisation An important aspect of the master/slave dynamic is the ascription of agency to the master and no, or limited, agency to the slave. I re-situate agency within a more-than-human sociality that includes both human and other than human members of the Earth community. I interpret forgiveness in Luke as a gracious interruption (or gift) that occurs within the materiality of this community. Through a life-giving shift toward freedom, this gift of forgiveness enables in turn a life-giving agency, enacted in a more-than-human community.

The Paradox of Forgiveness

AbstractPhilosophers often claim that forgiveness is a paradoxical phenomenon. I here examine two of the most widespread ways of dealing with the paradoxical nature of forgiveness. One of these ways, emblematized by Aurel Kolnai, seeks to resolve the paradox by appealing to the idea of repentance. Somehow, if a wrongdoer repents, then forgiving her is no longer paradoxical. I argue that this influential position faces more problems than it solves. The other way to approach the paradox, exemplified here by the work of Jacques Derrida, is just too obscure to be by itself helpful. Yet, I argue that what I take to be its spirit is on the right track. I recommend distinguishing between (1) the definition and the justification of forgiveness, and also between (2) forgiveness understood as (a) a mental phenomenon and (b) an overt, communicative act. These distinctions are not given their due in the specialized literature, and I expose the nefarious consequences of this neglect. By focusing on forgiveness as a mental phenomenon I seek to analyze the root of the talk of paradoxes which surrounds the discussion of forgiveness. Finally, I present an analysis of forgiveness as a pure mental phenomenon, and argue that this analysis is the most important step in understanding forgiveness in any other sense. While my analysis reveals interesting aspects of forgiveness, it reveals, too, that forgiveness is not quite as paradoxical after all.

Attitudinal Ambivalence, Rumination, and Forgiveness of Partner Transgressions in Marriage

Although positive and negative attitudes toward a transgressor are related to increased and decreased forgiveness, respectively, prior research has failed to investigate forgiveness among those who feel both positively and negatively toward a transgressor. Therefore, the authors examined such ambivalence and its relationship to forgiveness. It was hypothesized that spouses with ambivalent attitudes toward their partner will be less forgiving of a partner transgression because such an event is likely to prime the negative component of their ambivalence. Because ruminating about a transgression also has the potential to prime the negative component of one's ambivalence, an interaction between rumination and ambivalence was predicted. Data from 87 married couples showed that greater attitudinal ambivalence toward the partner was associated with decreased forgiveness only when husbands and wives thought about the transgression frequently; ambivalence was not related to forgiveness in the absence of rumination. The implications of these findings for understanding forgiveness in marriage and for increasing forgiveness among married couples are discussed.

The development of forgiveness in the context of adolescent friendship conflict in Korea

A developmental pattern of understanding interpersonal forgiveness is proposed and examined with 30 junior high and 30 college students in Seoul, Korea. Three questions are asked: Does the developmental sequence in understanding forgiveness relate to age? Is there a relation between the understanding of forgiveness and the degree of forgiveness offered to one's offending friend? Is there a relation between the way people understand forgiveness and how they go about restoring an actual friendship in conflict? All participants had serious and unfair conflicts with their close friends during the past 5 to 6 months. Results support a developmental sequence in Korea and the observed relation between the sequence and actual friendship restoration strategies. There was at least partial statistical support for the relation between understanding forgiveness and the participants' forgiving behaviour in real life situations. Implications are drawn for the study and implementation of forgiveness in adolescents.