Resilience and Willingness to Forgive Infidelity: An Examination of the Relationship by Type of Infidelity, Attitudes Toward Infidelity, and Relationship Investment

Abstract

The study aimed to examine whether an individual’s resilience predicts willingness to forgive an infidelity. The association was moderated by the typology of infidelity (sexual, emotional, technological, solitary), attitudes toward infidelity, and relationship investment. Three hundred and eighty individuals in a committed relationship for at least one year who had experienced an act of infidelity in the past five years were surveyed. Although the hypotheses were not supported, two significant findings opposite from the researcher’s predictions did emerge. Individuals with higher resilience reported reduced willingness to forgive an infidelity. Attitudes toward infidelity moderated the relationship between levels of resilience and willingness to forgive infidelity. Type of infidelity and relationship investment did not have a significant impact on resilience and willingness to forgive. Keywords: infidelity, resilience, forgiveness, relationship investment