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

Yıl 2017, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 68, 97 - 120, 20.03.2017

Aslı Ascıoglu Onal İlhan Yalcın

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Kaynakça

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