Forgiveness in response to cultural microaggressions

• Published in: Counselling psychology quarterly Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 291 - 300
• Main Authors: Schoulte, Joleen C., Schultz, Jessica M., Altmaier, Elizabeth M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.12.2011; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adults; Aggressiveness; Biological and medical sciences; cultural microaggressions; Culture; discrimination; Emotional disorders; Forgiveness; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Group counselling; interpersonal offenses; Perpetrators; Prevalence; Psychological distress; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Victims; Human; Personal experience; Forgiveness; Discrimination; Social interaction; Aggression; Victimization; Cultural aspect; Psychological effect; Antecedent; Interpersonal relation
• ISSN: 0951-5070; 1469-3674
• DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2011.634266

This study investigated prevalence and impact of cultural microaggressions among adults. When participants were asked to describe a time when they had been wronged by another person, approximately 7% identified a cultural microaggression. Adults who experienced a cultural microaggression reported significant levels of distress and moderate levels of unforgiveness (revenge and avoidance) toward the perpetrator. Victims also reported moderate levels of forgiveness about the event. There were no significant differences between victims of cultural microaggressions and victims of other interpersonal offenses in measures of event-related distress and forgiveness. Results are discussed in the context of better understanding the responses of forgiveness after the experience of microaggressions predicated on the victim's status in a nonmajority group. Implications for counseling are presented.