Putting the Pieces Together: A Proposed Model of Unforgiveness

Previous research and theorizing on unforgiveness has largely focused on the emotional – ruminative aspect of the phenomenon and adverse consequences to health and relationships that are associated with it. In contrast to this, my analysis of fourteen semi-structured interviews with victims of interpersonal offenses indicates that unforgiveness is a much more multi-faceted and nuanced experience. Based on participants’ responses, I identified a possible model of unforgiveness that includes the emotional – ruminative and cognitive dimensions of unforgiveness, as well as a number of components – inner conflict, barriers to forgiveness, and strategies for resolving inner conflict – that affect where a victim of an interpersonal transgression may be charted along the two dimensions. Implications for conceptualizing unforgiveness and directions for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Jones Ross, Rachel

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Boon, Susan

• Social

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27487

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/1121