Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Empathy and Forgiveness

• Published in: The Journal of social psychology Vol. 145; no. 6; pp. 673 - 685
• Main Authors: Toussaint, Loren, Webb, Jon R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Heldref 01.12.2005; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Conflict Resolution; Coping; coping strategies; Empathy; Female; Females; Forgiveness; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender; Gender differences; Humans; Hypotheses; Interpersonal interaction; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; interpersonal understanding; Male; Males; Mentors; Moral Development; Nonverbal Communication; Personal relationships; Perspective Taking; Prosocial Behavior; Prosocial behaviour; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Researchers; Sex Differences; Sex Factors; Social Behavior; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival strategy; Understanding; Women; Human; coping strategies; Social interaction; Prosocial behavior; perspective taking; Sex; interpersonal understanding; Strategy; Empathy; Coping; Interpersonal relation; gender differences
• ISSN: 0022-4545; 1940-1183
• DOI: 10.3200/SOCP.145.6.673-686

Much research has shown that women are more empathic than men. Yet, women and men are equally forgiving. However, it is not clear whether empathy is more important to forgiveness for men or for women. The purpose of the present study was to examine gender differences in levels of empathy and forgiveness and the extent to which the association of empathy and forgiveness differed by gender. Participants were 127 community residents who completed self-report measures of empathy and forgiveness. The present results showed that women were more empathic than men, but no gender difference for forgiveness was apparent. However, the association between empathy and forgiveness did differ by gender. Empathy was associated with forgiveness in men-but not in women.