The Temporal Course of Self–forgiveness

This study examined the temporal course of self–forgiveness using 8 waves of data collected from 148 participants. Self–forgiveness increased linearly over time, and fluctuations in 6 time–varying covariates were related to changes in self–forgiveness beyond those accounted for by the self–forgiveness trajectory. Decreases in guilt, perceived transgression severity, and conciliatory behavior toward a higher power were associated with increases in self–forgiveness. Increases in perceived forgiveness from the victim and a higher power and conciliatory behavior toward the victim were also related to increases in self–forgiveness. These findings suggest that self–forgiveness is a dynamic process associated with multiple factors and lend preliminary support to J.H. Hall and F.D. Fincham’s (2005) theoretical model of self–forgiveness.