An exploration of the concept of forgiveness in Young Adults

Gomes, Claudia (2019) An exploration of the concept of forgiveness in Young Adults. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

There is limited research on the concept of forgiveness in young adults in romantic relationships, even though, it is undeniable that forgiveness promotes healthier relationships and social bonds. This study aimed to explore how young adults view, experience and understand forgiveness in romantic relationships. Three females and three males participated in semi-structured interviews in order to obtain individual experiences of forgiveness. Interviews were then transcribed using thematic analysis. Three themes were found: ‘sense of belonging’, ‘forgive and forget’ and ‘emotion’. The themes demonstrates there are various factors affecting forgiveness. It seems to be that the emotion felt for the offender is the one factor mostly expressed to impact forgiveness. Future research should focus on how the concept of forgiveness is viewed differently in different cultures.