Self-forgiveness and its relationship to guilt-proneness, shame-proneness and empathy in young adults

Denisa Marcinechová
Lucia Martinčeková

Abstract

The goal of this paper was to find out relationships between self-forgiveness, guilt-proneness, shame-proneness, and empathy in young adults. Self-forgiveness is a dynamic process associated with various factors. Based on the presented models by Hall, Fincham (2005) and Rangganadhan, Todorov (2010), the study focused on emotional determinants of self-forgiveness – guilt, shame, and empathy. The research was conducted on 153 young adults ranged in age from 20 to 30 years (M = 22,82; SD = 2,57). The data were obtained by the Enright Self-forgiveness Inventory, the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The results showed that shame-proneness was a significant negative predictor of self-forgiveness, compared to guilt-proneness. Personal distress empathy was a stronger negative predictor of self-forgiveness, compared to empathic concern. Our findings also confirmed a positive relationship between guilt and empathic concern, and a positive relationship between shame and personal distress. Moreover, there were significant differences between men and women in the variables of guilt and shame, where women reached a higher level.

https://doi.org/10.29364/epsy.316

(Fulltext in Slovak)

Keywords

empathic concern, personal distress, self-forgiveness, shame-proneness, guilt-proneness

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