Relationships between Young Adults' Forgiveness Culture and their Parents' Forgiveness Culture

Abstract

The present study examined whether forgiveness culture in young adults was related with forgiveness culture in their parents. One hundred and sixty-six young adults aged 18 to 33, their 166 biological fathers, aged 34 to 72, and their 166 mothers, aged 34 to 63, were presented with the Forgivingness Scale. Young adults' resentment tendencies were linked to their mothers' forgivingness while young adults' revengeful tendencies were linked to their fathers' forgivingness. These results are discussed in terms of gender-type stereotypes regarding the validity of emotions.