Abstract
In two studies, the authors sought to identify the mathematical function underlying the temporal course of forgiveness. A logarithmic model outperformed linear, exponential, power, hyperbolic, and exponential-power models. The logarithmic function implies a psychological process yielding diminishing returns, corresponds to the Weber-Fechner law, and is functionally similar to the power law underlying the psychophysical function (Stevens, 1971) and the forgetting function (Wixted & Ebbesen, 1997). By 3 months after their transgressions, the typical participant's forgiveness had increased by two log-odds units. Individual differences in rates of change were correlated with robust predictors of forgiveness. Consistent with evolutionary theorizing (McCullough, 2008), Study 2 revealed that forgiveness was uniquely associated with participants' perceptions that their relationships with their offenders retained value.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 358-376 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Emotion |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2010 |
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Keywords
- change
- evolution
- forgiveness
- multilevel modeling
- nonlinear models
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
On the Form and Function of Forgiving : Modeling the Time-Forgiveness Relationship and Testing the Valuable Relationships Hypothesis. / McCullough, Michael; Luna, Lindsey Root; Berry, Jack W.; Tabak, Benjamin A.; Bono, Giacomo.
In: Emotion, Vol. 10, No. 3, 01.06.2010, p. 358-376.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - On the Form and Function of Forgiving
T2 - Modeling the Time-Forgiveness Relationship and Testing the Valuable Relationships Hypothesis
AU - McCullough, Michael
AU - Luna, Lindsey Root
AU - Berry, Jack W.
AU - Tabak, Benjamin A.
AU - Bono, Giacomo
PY - 2010/6/1
Y1 - 2010/6/1
N2 - In two studies, the authors sought to identify the mathematical function underlying the temporal course of forgiveness. A logarithmic model outperformed linear, exponential, power, hyperbolic, and exponential-power models. The logarithmic function implies a psychological process yielding diminishing returns, corresponds to the Weber-Fechner law, and is functionally similar to the power law underlying the psychophysical function (Stevens, 1971) and the forgetting function (Wixted & Ebbesen, 1997). By 3 months after their transgressions, the typical participant's forgiveness had increased by two log-odds units. Individual differences in rates of change were correlated with robust predictors of forgiveness. Consistent with evolutionary theorizing (McCullough, 2008), Study 2 revealed that forgiveness was uniquely associated with participants' perceptions that their relationships with their offenders retained value.
AB - In two studies, the authors sought to identify the mathematical function underlying the temporal course of forgiveness. A logarithmic model outperformed linear, exponential, power, hyperbolic, and exponential-power models. The logarithmic function implies a psychological process yielding diminishing returns, corresponds to the Weber-Fechner law, and is functionally similar to the power law underlying the psychophysical function (Stevens, 1971) and the forgetting function (Wixted & Ebbesen, 1997). By 3 months after their transgressions, the typical participant's forgiveness had increased by two log-odds units. Individual differences in rates of change were correlated with robust predictors of forgiveness. Consistent with evolutionary theorizing (McCullough, 2008), Study 2 revealed that forgiveness was uniquely associated with participants' perceptions that their relationships with their offenders retained value.
KW - change
KW - evolution
KW - forgiveness
KW - multilevel modeling
KW - nonlinear models
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953464847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77953464847&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0019349
DO - 10.1037/a0019349
M3 - Article
C2 - 20515225
AN - SCOPUS:77953464847
VL - 10
SP - 358
EP - 376
JO - Emotion
JF - Emotion
SN - 1528-3542
IS - 3
ER -