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The present research intends to examine the relationship between the two constructs of positive psychology i.e. forgiveness and psychological well-being among females within age group of 18 to 21 years. Arandom sample of 50 female students is selected from colleges in Chandigarh. For this purpose, it is hypothesized that there exists a positive correlation between forgiveness and psychological well-being. In this study, Heartland Forgiveness Scale (Thompson & Synder, 2003) and Ryffs Psychological Well-being scales (42 items) (1989) is used to measure forgiveness and well-being respectively. The relationships between them were examined using correlation analysis. The results revealed significant correlation ( r= 0.461, p<0.01) between forgiveness and psychological well-being among females. It indicated that females high in forgiveness are more likely to show improved psychological well-being.
Keywords: forgiveness, psychological wellbeing, females
The field of positive psychology was officially launched January 2000 in a special issue of the American Psychologist. Martin Seligman is considered the father of positive psychology and the initial group of positive psychology leaders also included Edward Diener and Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi. Positive psychology was born out of the need to redirect psychology back to its two neglected missions: to make normal people stronger and more productive and develop and nurture high talent. It is a branch of psychology that complements the traditional focus on pathology with the study of human strengths and virtues and the factors that contribute to a full and meaningful life.
Definition
According to Shelly Gable and Jonathan Haidt (2005) "Positive psychology is the study of the conditions and processes that contribute to the flourishing or optimal functioning of people, groups and institutions".
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a process (or a result of a process) that involves a change in emotion and attitude regarding an offender. Most scholars view this as an intentional and voluntary process driven by a deliberate decision to forgive. Forgiveness involves the reduction of negative responses to offense; however, it may also include an increase in positive responses. It does not necessarily involve restitution, retribution, reconciliation, nor does it require continued victim vulnerability. It is a willful, reasoned, intrapsychic process undertaken by the victim, irrespective of the offender. As such, forgiveness involves affective, behavioral, and cognitive components and is a motivationally and volitionally unique coping mechanism. In...