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The Multidimensional Forgiveness Inventory: A Model for the Assessment of Incongruent and Incomplete Forgiveness

James G. Hillman,T. MacDonald

Published 2025 in SAGE Open

ABSTRACT

Building on existing models, we theorized a dimensional model which quantifies forgiveness in terms of incongruence among forgiveness aspects. In the present research we aimed to draw on attitudinal theory to validate a measure of forgiveness which assessed cognition, behavior, and affect. Our goal was to develop a measure of forgiveness which captures incongruence between domains. To do this, we examined the validity and reliability of the Multi-dimensional Forgiveness Inventory (MDFI), which assess forgiveness-relevant behavior, cognition, and affect. In Study 1 we assessed convergent/divergent validity and assessed predictive associations among dimensions and theoretically relevant constructs. In Study 2 we assigned participants to rate their forgiveness for transgressions (small or large), at two different time points. This allowed us to assess temporal stability of dimensions across similar and dissimilar transgressions. In Study 3 we replicated research on embodied remorse using the MDFI to assess forgiveness. We found that for transgressors demonstrating embodied remorse (i.e., kneeling), participants were more willing to communicate forgiveness, but we found no difference in cognitive or affective forgiveness (in line with past research). The present research provides a novel model and measure to assess incongruent forgiveness. Plain language summary Internal processes such as people’s thoughts and feelings are typically in alignment. However, it is not unusual for people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to become incongruent with one another. For instance, people may feel negatively toward a person (feelings) but act friendly to avoid conflict (behaviour). The present research aims to validate a measure which can capture these sorts of incongruence between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in people’s experiences of forgiveness. In Study 1 we demonstrated the proposed measure was associated with other common measures of forgiveness. In addition we demonstrated that thoughts and feelings about forgiveness are associated with unique perceptions of a given relationship (commitment and satisfaction, respectively). In Study 2 we demonstrated that these measures have acceptable reliability over time, but different facets of forgiveness may have different reliabilities depending on the transgression. Lastly, in Study 3 we replicate effects of embodied remorse with the proposed measure. We extend the prior findings by demonstrating that embodied remorse enhances behavioural forgiveness compared to standard apologies, and reduces the gap between thoughts and actions of the forgiver.

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