ABSTRACT
In the course of human relationships, it is virtually impossible to avoid hurtingothers and being hurt by them. One response to interpersonal offenses is to forgive the offender, thereby opening the door to reconciliation and increasing the likelihood of living “happily ever after.” This assumption that forgiveness is beneficial to individuals and relationships, even when it is not stated explicitly, is implicit in much of the research investigating its correlates, antecedents, determinants, and consequences.
