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The transforming power of self-forgiveness in the aftermath of wrongdoing

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  • Ong, Madeline

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of self-forgiveness on transgressors’ self-improvement motivation and their subsequent moral disengagement and unethical behavior. It also investigates whether self-forgiveness might be more critical for transgressors with a fixed mindset compared to those with a growth mindset. Eight studies (Total N = 2,522), in which self-forgiveness was both measured (Studies 1a to 3) and experimentally manipulated (Studies 4 and 5), were conducted to test the proposed theoretical model. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that when transgressors forgive themselves for a transgression, they show greater self-improvement motivation, and therefore are less likely to morally disengage and commit another transgression. Furthermore, self-forgiveness offers greater benefits for transgressors with a fixed mindset than those with a growth mindset. These findings highlight the transforming power of self-forgiveness, particularly for individuals with a fixed mindset.

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  • Ong, Madeline, 2023. "The transforming power of self-forgiveness in the aftermath of wrongdoing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:176:y:2023:i:c:s0749597823000122
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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