Forgiving the unfaithful partner: How do discovery method, frequency of occurrence, and presence of apology affect victim's s reaction?

Abstract

Background: When a person discovers a partner’s sexual infidelity, he/she is faced with a crucial dilemma: either to forgive the offender and work through the betrayal or terminate the relationship. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend Gunderson and Ferrari’s (2008) original study, as well as, address some of its methodological limitations. Method of discovery, frequency of occurrence, presence or absence of apology as well as prior infidelity experience in relation to victim’s forgiveness were examined. Method: A sample of undergraduate students (n=208; F/M: 112/96; Mean age= 22.3, SD=2.38) were presented with an imaginary scenario and asked to respond to a series of questions assessing their overall tendency to forgive. Results: Results indicated that forgiveness was most likely to take place when the unfaithful partner apologized, the offense was an isolated incident and the victim had no prior personal infidelity experience. Gender effects also emerged, with females being more willing to forgive the unfaithful partner than males. Conclusion: Discussion integrates results with previous research on forgiveness in the context of relationship transgressions and suggests important directions for future research. Clinical implications of the study's findings are further discussed.