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Does good emotion management aid forgiving? Multiple dimensions of empathy, emotion management and forgiveness of self and others

La Trobe University

Eleanor H. Wertheim

La Trobe University, e.wertheim{at}latrobe.edu.au

The ability to forgive is considered important in the successful maintenance of relationships. In this study, a multifactorial model predicting two forms of forgiveness was examined in a combined community and university sample (N = 110) who reported on their ability to manage emotions, their tendency to empathize (through perspective taking, empathic concern, and personal distress), and their disposition to forgive others and self. Findings suggested that the ability to manage and repair emotions predicted a greater disposition to forgive, and that perspective taking mediated the relationship between emotion management and forgiveness of others. A multifactorial model for other-forgiveness was completely replicated in significant others' (N = 104) reports about participants, although significant others' results only partially replicated participant findings for self-forgiveness.

Key Words: emotional intelligence • emotion management • empathic concern • empathy • forgive • perspective taking • self-forgiveness

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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 24, No. 6, 931-949 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407507084191


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hodgson, L. K. Articles by Wertheim, E. H. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?