Seeking forgiveness: Theoretical context and an initial empirical study

While research on granting forgiveness has exploded recently, no theoretica l or empirical attention has been directed at seeking forgiveness. We lay a theoretical base for the study of seeking forgiveness and report our initi al study bearing on the concept. We investigate the potential role of some personality and developmental factors that might promote seeking forgivenes s. Students (N = 232) who indicated having transgressed against a partner i n the past year completed questionnaires on religiosity, age, developmental level of reasoning about forgiveness, narcissism, self-monitoring, and the level to which they had sought forgiveness. Neither religiosity nor age si gnificantly predicted seeking forgiveness. Developmental level of reasoning about forgiveness predicted seeking forgiveness beyond religiosity and age . Narcissism and self-monitoring significantly predicted seeking forgivenes s. We outline limitations of the study and implications for future research , clinical practice, and integration.