Forgiveness: a China-Western Europe comparison

Area of Science:

• Cross-cultural psychology
• Social psychology
• Cultural differences in emotion

Background:

• Previous research suggests higher forgiveness in collectivistic cultures compared to individualistic ones.
• Cultural norms and values significantly shape emotional expression and interpersonal conflict resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare levels of dispositional forgiveness between Chinese and Western European cultural groups.
• To investigate cultural variations in lasting resentment and sensitivity to offense circumstances.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Forgivingness Questionnaire (E. Mullet et al., 2003) for assessment.
• Surveyed 738 Chinese participants and 810 Western European participants.

Main Results:

• Overall dispositional forgiveness levels were comparable across both cultural samples.
• Chinese participants exhibited significantly higher levels of lasting resentment.
• Chinese participants demonstrated greater sensitivity to the specific circumstances surrounding an offense.

Conclusions:

• Findings contradict previous studies indicating higher forgiveness in collectivistic cultures.
• Cultural factors beyond collectivism vs. individualism, such as religious beliefs, may influence forgiveness.
• Further research is needed to explore the multifaceted nature of cultural influences on forgiveness.