Interpersonal transgressions are a “class of interpersonal stressors in which people perceive that another person has harmed them in a way that they consider both painful and morally wrong” (McCullough, Root & Cohen, 2006). Interpersonal transgressions do have negative effects on mental health. For example, when one discovers that his or her partner has indulged in infidelity is associated with a six fold increase in the likelihood of major depressive disorder (Cano & O’Leary, 2000), and the experience of humiliation is associated with a 70% increase in the risk of major depressive disorder (Kendler, Hettema, Butera, Gardner, & Prescott, 2003). Transgressions frequently elicit a desire in the victim’s mind to avoid the transgressor, seek
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That is, when people forgive, they become less avoidant, less vengeful, and more benevolent toward the relationship partner who hurt them (Fincham & Beach, 2002; McCullough, 2001; McCullough et al., 1997). Consistent with this perspective, Fincham (2000) found that spouses’ forgiveness predicted retaliatory and conciliatory behaviour following their partner’s transgressions independent of marital quality and the extent of hurt levied upon by the transgression. Because forgiving comprises restoration of these three TRIMs toward their pre transgression levels, it refers to prosocial TRIM ratings - high levels of Benevolence motivation and low levels of Avoidance and Revenge motivation) as evidence of forgiveness.(McCullogh, root & Cohen,2006). Interpersonal theory suggests that “interaction dynamics are influenced by the principle of complementarily: A person’s behaviour toward an interaction partner is influenced by that partner’s recent behavior toward him or her” (Leary, 1957; Markey, Funder, & Ozer, 2003). Longitudinal studies of couple interactions shows that “not only recent but also past partner behaviours play a role, encoded in the form of ongoing expectations or attributions that influence a person’s present responses to that partner” (Fincham, Harold, & Gano-Phillips, …show more content…
Such transgressions or hurts typically elicit at least two transgression-related interpersonal motivations (TRIMs): the motivation to avoid and the motivation to seek revenge. (McCullough, Worthington, and Rachal ,1997) It has been postulated that “reductions in these two motivations, perhaps along with a restored motivation to be benevolent (which typically decreases when one is injured or offended), are the psychological dimensions in which forgiveness occurs.” (McCullough,***) In other words, forgiveness can be conceptualized as a complex of pro social changes in one’s interpersonal motivations following a transgression (McCullough et al., 1997, 1998): When people forgive, they experience (a) reduced motivations to seek revenge, (b) reduced motivations to avoid their transgressors, and (c) increased benevolence or goodwill for their transgressors. Thus, typically forgiveness is assessed in terms of these three TRIMs (avoidance, benevolence, and
That is, when people forgive, they become less avoidant, less vengeful, and more benevolent toward the relationship partner who hurt them (Fincham & Beach, 2002; McCullough, 2001; McCullough et al., 1997). Consistent with this perspective, Fincham (2000) found that spouses’ forgiveness predicted retaliatory and conciliatory behaviour following their partner’s transgressions independent of marital quality and the extent of hurt levied upon by the transgression. Because forgiving comprises restoration of these three TRIMs toward their pre transgression levels, it refers to prosocial TRIM ratings - high levels of Benevolence motivation and low levels of Avoidance and Revenge motivation) as evidence of forgiveness.(McCullogh, root & Cohen,2006). Interpersonal theory suggests that “interaction dynamics are influenced by the principle of complementarily: A person’s behaviour toward an interaction partner is influenced by that partner’s recent behavior toward him or her” (Leary, 1957; Markey, Funder, & Ozer, 2003). Longitudinal studies of couple interactions shows that “not only recent but also past partner behaviours play a role, encoded in the form of ongoing expectations or attributions that influence a person’s present responses to that partner” (Fincham, Harold, & Gano-Phillips, …show more content…
Such transgressions or hurts typically elicit at least two transgression-related interpersonal motivations (TRIMs): the motivation to avoid and the motivation to seek revenge. (McCullough, Worthington, and Rachal ,1997) It has been postulated that “reductions in these two motivations, perhaps along with a restored motivation to be benevolent (which typically decreases when one is injured or offended), are the psychological dimensions in which forgiveness occurs.” (McCullough,***) In other words, forgiveness can be conceptualized as a complex of pro social changes in one’s interpersonal motivations following a transgression (McCullough et al., 1997, 1998): When people forgive, they experience (a) reduced motivations to seek revenge, (b) reduced motivations to avoid their transgressors, and (c) increased benevolence or goodwill for their transgressors. Thus, typically forgiveness is assessed in terms of these three TRIMs (avoidance, benevolence, and