What is Forgiveness? Why some people are more forgiving than others?
What is Forgiveness? Why we some people forgive and others don’t. According to English poet Alexander Pope “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” Let’s analyze what forgiveness is? Why some people are more forgiving than others? How does forgiveness affect our well-being?
Mahatma Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”. We face situations in our everyday life where we are offended by other people which makes us retaliate. This retaliation and revengeful behavior is deeply rooted in our biological and psychological nature. Studies have documented that some other primates like chimpanzees also have tendency to retaliate if victimized by other animals. The revenge taking motive “eye for eye” has been an integral part of human culture for centuries to deal with perceived injustices in the society.
Forgiveness can be a response, a personality trait and characteristic of social unit.
Forgiveness as a Response
A prosocial change in victim’s thoughts and behavior and it becomes more positive and less negative.
Forgiveness as a Trait
It is a propensity to forgive others generally in wide variety of interpersonal circumstances.
Forgiveness as a quality of Social unit
Social structures like marriages, families and communities are more prone to forgive individuals.