Abstract:
The primary purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire that assesses both
forgiveness-seeking motives and behaviours. This questionnaire was based on the
premise that, following the commitment of an offense in the context of a relationship, a
perpetrator will be motivated to reduce the damage that has taken place. The .
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questionnaire examined several motives that a perpetrator might have for seeking
forgiveness. These motives were divided into five proposed domains of posttransgression
concerns: God, Self, Victim, Others/Society, and Relationship. Within these
domains, the following more specific types of concern were explored: Avoidance of
punishment, concern about public image, emotional well-being, self-image, sense of
fairness/justice, loss of relationship, loss or gain of power, and loss of ability to trust. The
questionnaire also assessed which behaviours (approach and avoidance) a perpetrator
might use in order to address these concerns. In addition, this study explored whether or
not the severity of the situation and the personality of the perpetrator influenced post
transgression motives and behaviours. Participants were 221 individuals from the
community and Brock University. They filled out a questionnaire package that assessed
personality traits, social desirability, and forgiveness-seeking motives and behaviours. In
order to answer items assessing motives and behaviours, participants were asked to
imagine themselves as perpetrators in three hypothetical transgression scenarios. These
scenarios ranged in severity fi^om low to high. Participants were asked to rate their
motives and behaviours both in an immediate time frame (immediately following the
transgression) and in the long-term (in order to move on from the situation). Results
indicated that the motivation items could be classified into the following subscales:Concern about God, Damaged Self-worth Concerns, Justice Concerns, Impression
Management Concerns, Victim and Others Concerns, and Relationship Concerns. The
behaviour items formed the following subscales: Approach, Avoidance, Denial and
Hiding, and Groveling. Results also indicated differences in motivations and behaviours
based on the severity of the situation as well as the personality (assessed using the
HEXACO inventory) of the perpetrator.
