Seeking harmony after harm: exploring factors influencing victim-to-perpetrator forgiveness

Abstract

Although the concept of forgiveness has been well-researched across various disciplines, there remains a significant lack of research examining forgiveness within the criminal context. Experiencing a criminal offence is unique, in comparison to an everyday transgression, given the vast array of psychological and physical consequences that can arise following victimization. As a result, the present study aimed to explore the influencing factors of forgiveness between an individual who experienced violent victimization and the individual who committed the crime. An exploration of attitudes toward restorative justice was also conducted. Results indicated that strength of religious faith and cultural orientation may influence forgiveness toward an individual who caused harm, while cultural orientation and empathic concern were found to predict attitudes toward restorative justice. Results from this research have broad implications for theory (i.e., developing robust forgiveness models), policy (i.e., informing restorative justice and victim services), and practice (i.e., developing effective intervention strategies).