Abstract
This study examines the role of situational context and judgements of the victim on social reintegration of a victim based on their forgiveness decision after a transgression. In this 2x2 experimental study, participants read a fictitious scenario about a victim who either forgave or did not forgive a transgression, with additional contextual information either provided or withheld. A total of 162 participants completed a questionnaire including both quantitative and qualitative responses. The analysis showed significantly higher levels of agreement with forgiveness decisions when the victim did not forgive, and significantly higher levels of agreement for either forgiveness decision when context was present. The analysis also suggested a correlation between communion judgements and the victim granting forgiveness. These findings suggest that situational context is helping in mediating strong negative opinions about the victim’s forgiveness decision.
Recommended Citation
Slater, Olivia. 2025. "How We Judge Victims in a Social Context." Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections 8, (1). https://scholars.wlu.ca/bridges_contemporary_connections/vol8/iss1/3
Included in
Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons