Forgiveness

Perpetrators of transgressions may experience emotions, such as guilt, shame, or regret, and engage in self-punishment or self-destructive behaviors. Victims of transgressions may experience negative feelings, such as anger, resentment, or disappointment, toward the perpetrator. Withdrawal from or avoidance of the perpetrator, or retaliation or revenge, is also common. One way to deal with interpersonal transgressions is through forgiveness, of the self in the case of the transgressor and of the transgressor in the case of the victim. Self-forgiveness is therefore defined as overcoming self-resentment and self-contempt for doing wrong, whereas forgiveness is defined as overcoming the desires to seek revenge and to avoid contact with the transgressor. This position is consistent with many philosophical writings that define forgiveness as the forswearing of resentment toward ...