Journal of Science and Today's World

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1 Scholar Journal Journal of Science and Today's World 204, volume 3, issue 7, pages: Journal home page: ISSN X Research Article The relationship between the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness among the University of Isfahan students Bahare Labaki *, Mohammad Ali Nadi 2 Department of Psychology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences and psychology, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch,Isfahan, Iran A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Received 0 May 204 Accepted 30 May 204 Published 5 June 204 Keywords: Severity of Transgressions, Empathy, Guilt and Shame, Conciliatory Behaviors, Perceived Forgiveness, Self Forgiveness *correspondence should be addressed to Bahare Labaki, Department of Psychology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Tell: +98 Fax: baharehlabaki@gmail.com The aim of this study was identifying the relationship between the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness among the University of Isfahan students. The method in this study was casual correlation. The population of the study was all the BA students of the University of Isfahan in academic year and by the table of determining sample size by Cohen et al (20), 36 individuals (243 female and 7 male) were determined and then based on stratified random sampling, the sample size of each faculty was specified. The tools of the study are Transgression Semantic Differentiation (TSD) inventory by McConnell (2009), Interpersonal Reactivity Index by Davis (994), State Shame and Guilt Scale by Marschall et al (994), Conciliatory Behaviors Scale (CBS) by McCullough et al (997), Transgression Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM) by McCullough et al (998)and SelfForgiveness Scale by Wohl et al (2008). The reliability of the questionnaires using Cronbach s alpha was calculated and obtained as equal to (0.94) for severity of transgression, (0.70) for empathy, (0.88) for guilt and shame, (0.80) for reconciliatory behaviors, (0.80) for perceivedforgiveness and (0.8) for selfforgiveness. Face and content validities of the tools employed in this study were verified by expert s opinion and construct validity was verified using confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis of the data of this study was done using descriptive and inferential statistical indices and through SPSS. The results of the study indicated a reverse and significant relationship of the severity of transgression and the feeling of guilt and shame with selfforgiveness (P<0.0). No significant relationship was found between conciliatory behaviors and self forgiveness (P<0.0). Also, the results indicated a positive and significant relationship of empathy and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness (P<0.0). Copyright 204 Bahare Labaki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.. Introduction Psychology is not just specific to dealing with mental illnesses and it should be attention to health and improving the quality of life as much as it pays attention to treating mental illnesses [37]. The aim of the positive psychology approach, that was formed by Seligman et al for compensating for the shortcomings of psychology and reducing the main emphasizes of psychologists on mental problems, is strengthening and optimizing personal virtues and abilities (Seligman and Peterson) such as curiosity, innovation, hope, forgiveness, satisfaction from life, enthusiasm, and sense of humor that are important for gaining positive traits. Close and mutual relationships are among the important elements of human life and necessary components of social psychology [3,36]. Close relationships are those sets of social relationships that result in many positive characteristics such as selfconfidence, happiness, joy and coordination [4,39]. however, they can also result in negative characteristics such as vulnerability, anger, humiliation and loneliness [35]. Mutual relationships, due to the combination of factors such as sincerity, trust and shared values, turn into close and intimate relationships [3], at the same time, these relationships are faced with risk factors such as resentment, anger, violence and loneliness [8]. Luskin and Thoresen (997) have defined forgiveness as the inclination to continue relationships by taking into consideration the possibility of harm (resentment) of human to each other. Thus, one of the main elements of maintaining relationships is forgiveness. There are moments in which the individual offends by offending others or oneself or by failure in observing personal standards, standards of others or spiritual standards. When the offender empathies for the victim (the one who is resented due to the harm) and accepts responsibility often experiences being sorry through shame in the form of guilt or selfcriticism. In other words, the feeling of guilt and shame are toxic intropunitive feelings that are focused on personality behaviors or faults [2,4]. In fact, doing a wrong act may result in selfdestructive thoughts, feelings and behaviors [44]. and living in these feelings often results in the wrongdoer to value and respect himself less[5].and for being free from these negative 327 P a g e

2 J. Sci. Today's World, 204, volume 3, issue 7, pages: psychological feelings, the wrongdoers are often involved in selfforgiveness [28]. Selfforgiveness is one of the spiritual concepts and positive personal traits and has remained undiscovered as the main aspect of forgiveness [6]. Theorists and researchers have recently focused their attention on the important psychological structure of intraindividual forgiveness [7,5,44]. Selfforgiveness is a conscious act, linear process or peaceful process through replacing or eliminating guilt or shame by undertaking responsibility, effort for compensating, valuing self despite limitations and correcting behavioral and personality defects and it is done in relation with interpersonal, intrapersonal and spiritual offences [37]. Selfforgiveness is in the form of a set of motivational changes in which the stimulation related to rebellion and being involved in selfpunishment are reduced and good thought towards self are increased and requires three stages. In the first stage the individual should acknowledge the selfrefusal behavior and accept the responsibility for this refusal. Then the individual should experience the feeling of guilt and shame and finally the individual should overcome these feelings and thereby experience a motivational change free from selfpunishment and towards selfacceptance and as selfforgiveness is an attitude change related to self it will reduce the negative feeling of the individual towards self[6]. Selfforgiveness should be usually combined with commitment to change in the behavior of the individual in the future and this encourages the individual to attitudinal behaviors instead of avoidance behaviors [40]. Selfforgiveness process can involve one or several of the feelings of anger, resentment, feeling of guilt, shame, selfcriticism, depression, anxiety, sorrow and grief. As soon as the selfforgiveness process ends, the individual becomes free from negative feeling towards self and replaces them with positive feelings such as empathy, kindness and love to self [2]. Luskin (2003) suggests that selfforgiveness is the result of the awareness that retaining hatred to an event is not an appropriate method for being free from the anger situation [24]. Dillon (200) believes that selfforgiveness includes reconstruction of selfesteem and when individuals forgive themselves, their feelings, actions and beliefs regarding themselves becomes more positive, they do not underestimate themselves and they began loving themselves again and they believe that they are valuable individuals [44]. Selfforgiveness increases selfrespect, mental health [9], satisfaction from life and reduces negative outcomes such as anxiety and depression [25,43]. The theoretical selfforgiveness models and approaches, too, mainly confirm its therapeutic effect on individual health not only psychologically but also physically [24]. The pain and suffering involved in the feeling of shame and guilt can result in psychological and physical harm and negative impact on different aspects of life which indicate the importance of selfforgiveness. In addition, a person that is in deep guilt is more likely to blame himself that can result in resentments in children, spouse and friends [24]. Selfforgiveness can be a protective factor against suicide risk too as it relives the feeling of guilt and shame []. Thus, identifying and determining the relationships of the variables that may have a role in selfforgiveness seems necessary as this subject is in the domain of positive psychology and its aim is improving the mental health of the individual. The individuals that make mistake feel guilt and shame through tension, sadness or sorrow that are negatively related to selfforgiveness [38]. Lazare pointed out another issue related to selfforgiveness called conciliatory behaviors that transgressors use in response to internal pressures and includes apologizing and asking for forgiveness from victims (2004). Perceived forgiveness of the victim is one of the factors which Hall and Fincham (2005) found to be related to selfforgiveness. It is an amount that a wrongdoer believes that is forgiven by the victim and it accompanied by increase of positive psychological emotions in the wrongdoer. Emphatic feelings can be an important tool by the wrongdoers in understanding that need they need selfforgiveness [27]. Some researchers concluded that social behaviors such as humility, prayer and Conciliatory behaviors have a positive relationship with selfforgiveness [2]. Considering the effective role of selfforgiveness in decrease of psychological damages and as it is an appropriate replacement for hatred and revenge against self and others, the important issue is identifying the effective factors in the formation of selfforgiveness. As selfforgiveness has a positive relationship with psychological, physiological and social health and the transformations that are occurred in human as the result of this process, paying more attention to selfforgiveness is very important []. However, there is no registered study regarding this positive psychological process (knowledge void). Entering university is accompanied by many changes in social and human relationships including the formation of social networks [32] and the occurrence of some human mistakes in these interactions are unavoidable. And after transgression, the individual becomes involved with negative emotions (anxiety, low selfesteem and ) and considering the proved impact of selfforgiveness in reducing or resolving negative emotions as the result of feeling of guilt and creation of moral growth, the necessity of conducting this study becomes significant and evident more than ever. Also, identifying the main predictor variables of selfforgiveness process helps he therapists to play an significant role in reducing depression, hostility and guilt and increase of the selfesteem of the patients by facilitating the selfforgiveness process. The present study aims to take a small step in filling the knowledge gap regarding recognition and development of the positive psychological phenomenon in the country by identifying and presenting the predictor variables of selfforgiveness. In this paper the following main hypothesis is studied: There is a relationship between the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness among the University of Isfahan students. Method As the present study aims at finding the relationship between the six structures of the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors, perceived forgiveness and selfforgiveness, it is of correlation study type. The population of the study is consisted of male and female BA students of the University of Isfahan and by the table of determining sample size by Cohen et al (20), 36 individuals (243 female and 7 male) were determined and then based on stratified random sampling in proportion to the population share of each class in the society, the sample size of each faculty was specified. And by visiting the faculties of the University of Isfahan, the number of the selected sample was chosen randomly among the students and the study questionnaires were given to them. The participants in this study were in 844 years old age range. Their mean score was between 2 and 20. The data were collected from 8 faculties. Thus, 2.6 percent of the data was collected from faculty of engineering, 24.4 from faculty of humanities, 6.2 from 328 P a g e

3 J. Sci. Today's World, 204, volume 3, issue 7, pages: faculty of basic sciences, 4.2 from faculty of physical education,.2 from faculty of languages, 4.3 from faculty of sciences, 6.5 from the faculty of economy and administrative sciences and.4 percent from faculty of transportation. The responding time for the questionnaire was averagely between 20 and 25 minutes. In this study the severity of transgression, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame were considered as predictor variables, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness were considered as mediating variables and selfforgiveness was considered as dependent variable. The tools employed in this study are as follow: Transgression Semantic Differentiation(TSD) inventory In the present study, the severity of transgressions is measured by Transgression Semantic Differentiation (TSD) inventory of McConnell (2009). This inventory has to subscales that each assesses 2 traits with 7 point Likert scale and the perception of the transgressor and the victim separately. In this inventory a list of positive description and their opposites, negative descriptions, are provided (such as cruel kind) and the number close to the description indicates more compatibility with that description. The instructions of this scale allow the participants to select the number that is closer to their beliefs and also the views of the victims regarding the events. The scaled used is the seven point Likert scale between the traits (for example inclination to goodness) and their opposites (for example inclination to evil). Higher scores indicate more sever transgressions. Internal consistency for the subscales of the perception of the transgressor and the perception of the victim are reported as 089 and 0.77 respectively. 2Interpersonal Reactivity Index(IRI) Davis (994) has created the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and it means the structures that are related to the reactions of an individual against the experiences of others. This index has 28 items that deals with hat measures four dimensions of empathy namely emphatic concern, personal distress, fantasy and perspectivetaking and each of the dimensions has 7 items. In this study, two aspects of emphatic preparations (emphatic concern and perspectivetaking) are studied. The interpersonal reactivity has been quantified using five point Likert scale (completely describes me=5 and does not describe me at all=) and makes the high scores of empathy higher. This index has had favorable level of internal consistency for females (α= 0.7 and α= 0.78) and for males (α= 0.72) (Davis, 994). All have shown favorable levels of internal consistency from 0.7 to 0.77 (Davis, 994). In addition, the significance of retest is from 0.62 to 0.7 (Davis, 994). In scoring, based on content the items 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 were reversed. 3State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS) Marschall, Sanftner and Tangney created this scale in 994 that has5 items. The subscales of this scale is formed of the feeling of guild, feeling of shame and pride (each 5 items) and has been graded by five point (I have not had such feeling at all= and I have this feeling a lot=5) Likert scale and higher scores indicate higher levels of the feeling of guilt and shame. The favorable level s indicate stability of reliability for the feeling of guilt (α= 0.82) and shame (α= 0.89)( Tangney & Dearing, 2002). The state shame and guilt scale is created based on experimental background and theoretical richness. 4Conciliatory Behaviors Scale (CBS) McCullough et al (997) prepared this scale. This scale has five items that are graded with five point Likert scale (highly disagree=5 and highly agree=) and higher sores indicate more conciliatory behaviors. This scale has shown an acceptable level of internal consistency (α= 0.79)[29]. Differential reliability and validity have been reported for Conciliatory Behaviors Scale [27]. 5Transgression Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM) This inventory was created by McCullough et al (998) and is consisted of 2 items that includes two subscales namely avoidance (α= 0.90) and revenge (α= 0.86). The subscale of avoidance has 5 parts and the subscale of revenge has 7 parts and they are quantified by a seven point Likert scale (completely wrong= and completely right=). And the participants respond regarding their transgressions and higher scores indicate higher perceivedforgiveness. The reliability and validity of this inventory have been reported to be authentic [27]. 6SelfForgiveness Scale Wohl.DeShea & Wahkinney created this scale in 2008 that is consisted of two subscales of selfforgiving feelings and reactions (α= 0.86) with 8 items and selfforgiving beliefs (α= 0.98) with 9 items and shows favorable levels of stability of internal validity and convergence and discriminant validity. All of the items have been graded with a four point (4=completely and = not at all) and the higher scores indicate more selfforgiveness. The process of translation and preparation of measuring tools The scales of Transgression Semantic Differentiation, guilt and shame, reconciliatory behaviors, Transgression Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory, selfforgiveness and perceived selfforgiveness in this were translated in Iran and prepared for implementation for the first time. In translation, first, the questionnaire form was translated from English into Persian. Then it was given to eight psychology professor fluent in English to compare the translation with the source text. Then the translation of the questionnaire was revised based on the views of the professors. The revised questionnaire was given to thirty students experimentally to determine the ambiguities. Then literary revision of the vague questions and the questions that were difficult to understand was done. Finally, the questionnaire was compared with the English questionnaire by one of the professors for assurance. The words and terms used in the translation of the questions were compared with the English words in terms of meaning and concept to avoid the change in meaning of the terms and finally the main version was implemented. Findings In table (), the descriptive indices and internal consistency between the variables of the study are provided. Considering the findings in table (), it is observed that there is a negative and significant statistical relationship of the severity of transgression (r=0.27 and p 0.0) and the feeling of shame and guilt (r=0.5 and p 0.0) with selfforgiveness while there is no significant statistical relationship between reconciliatory behaviors and selfforgiveness. Table () descriptive and correlation indices of the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness nu m be r The variables of the study General scale of severity of transgression mean Stand ard devia tion 02/6 26/ 2 0/ /89 2 Empathy 48/ 8 / 2 0/ / 05 0/ 08 3 The feeling of guilt and shame 4 Reconciliatory behaviors 24/6 8/ 5 8/ 3/ 8 0/32 0/8 0/25 * 0/ 0/32 0/6 20 0/ 32 0/ / P a g e

4 J. Sci. Today's World, 204, volume 3, issue 7, pages: Perceived forgiveness 52/8 2/ 3 0/ 6 Selfforgiveness 5/ 7 7/ 5 0/27 0/7 0/2 0/6 0/27 0/04 * /3 0 0/8 0/5 /02 0 /06 0 0/5 Discussion and conclusion The main aim of this study was investigating the relationship of the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness with selfforgiveness. The investigation of the results of the study at the simple correlation level indicted that the severity of transgressions, empathy, feeling of guilt and shame, conciliatory behaviors and perceived forgiveness have a significant relationship with selfforgiveness. The relationship of the severity of transgression with selfforgiveness was obtained as reverse and significant which is consistent with the studies of Hall and Fincham (2005 & 2008), Rahaman (202), McConnell (2009), IngersollDayton and Krause (2005). In explaining these results it can be said that the transgressors that experience severe transgression probably showed their feelings of rejection, selfpunishment and dislike and showed no behavior of selfesteem and selfcompassion. Also, the experience of severe mistakes can prevent the individual from using compensatory behaviors that will result in nervousness, social isolation and depression. Thus, the lack of developing kindness towards self will prevent from selfforgiveness. The relationship of guilt and shame with selfforgiveness was also obtained as reverse and significant which is consistent with the results of Hall and Fincham (2008); after transgression, a negative internal feeling is created in the individual that results in the feeling of guilt and shame. An individual that feels guilt is probably experiencing feelings such as sorrow, remorse, humiliation, tension and stress and considers himself as a bad person thus he cannot feel compassion towards himself and has problem in accepting himself and tries to punish himself by selfcriticism. Hall and Fincham (2005) too found out that the feeling of guilt is accompanied by emotional tensions including anxiety. Hall and Fincham (2008) believe that high levels of guilt will prevent from selfforgiveness due to negative impact on perceived selfforgiveness as transgressors believe that they will never be forgiven by the victim and continue selfpunishment behaviors. On the other hand it seems that guilt, unlike shame, is more compatible and the individuals inclined towards the feeling of shame are more skilled in solving interpersonal problems and probably free themselves from anger through nonviolent discussion and cognitive reconstruction (Tangney & Dearing, 2002). This is because guilt is focused on special negative acts and does not require general selfdevaluing (Tangney, 995). The feeling of guilt motivates the transgressors to compensate for their transgression by passing through correction stages and creating commitment to change behavior in the future [22,40]. Studies indicate that the feeling of guilt is positively related to positive social attitudes and activities. Those who quickly feel guilty are more likely to sympathize with others. A path through which the feeling of guilt is resolved is justified well through a concept that is called the injustice void [0]. The transgressors are aware of the difference between their actions with and proper behavior with the victim and this results in the feeling of guilt. Transgressors try to fill the injustice void by selfpunishment or participating in compensatory activities such as confession, acceptance of the mistake and apology to the victim and doing these compensatory behaviors results in the decrease of guilt and hence increase of selfforgiveness [9]. Shame is the result of understanding the discrepancy between real self and the moral criteria subject to the principle that how human should be or what is a dignified human. Thus it results in the individual hiding himself to avoid the criticisms of others. Tangney believes that the feeling of guilt and shame are related to distinct models of experience including behavioral inclinations; and shame results in inclination to escape or revenge. Thus, the feeling of shame reduces the possibility of compensatory behaviors. Also selforiented nature of shame (unlike otheroriented nature of guilt) may have a weak relationship with selfforgiveness [4]. Also, considering the findings, the relationship between empathy and selfforgiveness is positive and significant which is consistent with the results of the study by Zeckmister and Romero (2002). For explaining the results it can be said that empathy has an essential role in the interpersonal commitments and social interactions [3]. Developing and maintaining friendship has the possibility of increasing help [5], adjusting social behaviors [].and creating and mainlining interpersonal relationships [6]. The sum of these positive social impacts and especially creation of commitment in the transgressor results in accepting responsibility which in turn results in conciliatory behaviors and compensating the transgression which is one of the main preparations in the process of selfforgiveness [8]. The studies by Roger in the field of consultation and psychotherapy too, indicate the importance of empathy in interpersonal relationships [20]. The relationship between conciliatory and selfforgiveness was obtained as insignificant. May be this can be viewed to be due to the different population or the mediatory role of this variable. However, overall it can be said that after transgression, the transgressor may show willingness for improving the harmed relationship in order to implement justice, by commitment regarding the victim behaviors. The behaviors such as compensation, apology, confession to transgression, effort for compensating and asking for forgiveness are defined as reconciliatory behaviors and all of these behaviors, due to impact on perceived forgiveness, result in the increase of the feeling of selfforgiveness[2]. Perceived forgiveness (as a completely perceived action) too, was positively related to selfforgiveness. This result is consistent with the result of the study by Hall and Fincham (2008), Rahaman (202) and McCullough et al (2003). And it can be explained in this way that when the transgressor thinks that he is forgiven by the victim for the transgression act, the development of selfcompassion becomes easier and selfforgiveness begins [7]. Despite the innovations in the present study in terms of employing tools, method and theoretical bases, it had limitations too. First, this study was only conducted in the students of the University of Isfahan; thus, one cannot comment on the generalizing the results to other societies. Thus, it is recommended to conduct this study on bigger samples and different populations (other state universities and different Azad Universities) to determine the changeability, if any. The second limitation is that the results of this study are based on correlation an thus explanation and interpretation of the results in casual form is not that rational and by designing experimental studies in this regard this limitation can be resolved. Also, all the findings of the present study are collected through selfreporting tools and the existence of skew in the answers is likely and this can be resolved by employing objective tools. Overall, based on the results of this study applied suggestions can be provided. The therapists by helping the patients that are experiencing shame can help in the selfforgiveness stages by changing the focus from personality 330 P a g e

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