Forgiveness of Others and Self‐Forgiveness: The Predictive Role of Cognitive Distortions, Empathy, and Rumination

Abstract

Purpose: People encounter many hurtful experiences in daily life. Hurtful experiences lead to negative emotions such as anger, revenge, shame, and guilt, and people need to overcome these experiences effectively in order to protect their mental health. Unforgiveness proves to be one of the most important sources of stress in an individual’s life, and forgiveness, on the other hand, is acknowledged as an effective coping mechanism that can be utilised in coping with this stressful mood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive role of interpersonal cognitive distortions, empathy, and rumination on levels of self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others. Research Methods: The study was carried out with 527 university students. The Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, short form of Rumination Scale, Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale, and Personal Information Form were used in order to collect data for the study. Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings: The results showed that where forgiveness of others was taken as a dependent variable in the regression model, cognitive distortions for interpersonal rejection, perspective taking, and empathic concern were significant predictors of forgiveness of others. Furthermore, in the model where self-forgiveness was chosen as a dependent variable, rumination and personal distress were found to be significant predictors of self-forgiveness. Implications for Research and Practice: Based on the results, during the forgiveness-based counseling interventions or psychoeducational programs, it can be more effective that practitioners consider related features or create modules based on these psychological constructs.

Keywords

• forgiveness process
• interpersonal rejection
• perspective taking
• ruminative thinking

Başkalarını ve Kendini Affetme: Bilişsel Çarpıtmalar, Empati ve Ruminasyonun Yordayıcı Rolü

Öz

Problem Durumu: Kişilerarası etkileşimin kaçınılmaz olduğu günümüz toplumunda; bireyler, başkaları tarafından incitildikleri ya da başkalarını incittikleri yaşantılarla sıklıkla karşı karşıya kalmaktadırlar. İncinme ya da incitme yaşantıları; öfke, intikam, suçluluk, utanç gibi olumsuz duyguları beraberinde getirmekte ve bireyin bu tür deneyimlerle etkili bir şekilde baş edememesi, depresyon ve kaygı gibi ruh sağlığı sorunları yaşamasıyla sonuçlanabilmektedir. Affedememe, bireyin yaşamındaki önemli stres kaynaklarından biri olarak görülmektedir. Affetme ise, bu stresli duygu durumuyla başa çıkmada kullanılabilecek etkili bir mekanizma olarak kabul edilmektedir. Affetmenin terapötik bir araç olarak psikolojik danışma uygulamalarında kullanılabilmesi için, öncelikle bireylerin kendilerini ya da başkalarını affetmeleriyle ilişkili faktörlerin neler olduğunun ortaya konulması gerekmektedir. Özellikle Batılı toplumlardan kökenini alarak geliştirilmiş olan modellerin çoğunda; affetme ile ilişkili olduğu düşünülen özelliklerden birinin empati olduğu vurgulanmaktadır. Empati ve empatinin alt boyutları ile başkalarını affetme arasındaki ilişkileri ortaya koyan çalışmalar bulunmakla birlikte, toplulukçu ya da ilişkisel kültürlerde söz konusu değişkenler arasındaki bağlantıları inceleyen çalışmaların görece sınırlı sayıda olduğu dikkat çekmektedir. Özellikle kendini affetme ile empati arasındaki ilişkilerin, gerek kuramsal gerekse ampirik çalışmalarla yeterince incelenmediği görülmektedir. Alanyazında, affetme sürecinde etkili olduğuna vurgu yapılan bir diğer psikolojik özellik ise ruminasyondur. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• yakınlıktan kaçınma
• perspektif alma
• ruminatif düşünme.
• affetme süreci

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