Have you found any cross-cultural differences in forgiveness that you can share with me?
We did find in one instance that some people in Asia would prefer to have an apology from the one who acted unjustly. This quest for an apology was stronger in Asia than in the United States. This seems to be based on an emphasis on social harmony and what is called “saving face.” In the United States, the apology is less emphasized if the forgiver can obtain internal emotional relief from the act of forgiving, whether or not an apology is given. In our experience, there is no difference in the understanding of what forgiveness is and is not. We have not found a difference in the degree to which people in Asia or the United States forgive following a forgiveness intervention, or in the outcomes of well-being.
Please follow and like us:
