Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation: An Ecological World View Framework
Author(s): Majed Ashy, Andrea E. Mercurio, Kathleen Malley-Morrison
Abstract: Orientations towards apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation were investigated from an ecological world-view approach in 543 men and women. Participants completed the Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation Scale, the Personal and Institutional Rights to Aggression Scale, the Revised Conflict Tactic Scales, an attachment measure and several demographic items. Scores on most childhood aggression scales were positively associated with beliefs interfering with apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Regression analyses revealed that the best predictive equation for beliefs facilitating apology and forgiveness included age, secure attachment, religiosity, (in)tolerance for governmental aggression, and advocacy of nonviolence. The best predictive equation for beliefs interfering with an orientation towards apology and forgiveness included fearful attachment style, religiosity, tolerance for governmental aggression, and (non)advocacy of non-violence. Future research may benefit from considering both orientations in support of and orientations against beliefs about the utility of apology, forgiveness and reconciliation within the context of conflict resolution.
Pages: 17-26
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