Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
5-2020
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph. D.
Department
Counseling and Human Development
Degree Program
Counseling and Personnel Services, PhD
Committee Chair
Leach, Mark
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Barbee, Anita
Committee Member
Cunningham, Michael
Committee Member
McCubbin, Laurie
Committee Member
Mitchell, Amanda
Author's Keywords
self-forgiveness; infidelity; relationship satisfaction; relationship maintenance; intrapersonal healing; interpersonal healing
Abstract
While a plethora of research studies exist regarding victims’ healing processes post-infidelity, almost no empirical data is available regarding perpetrators’ healing processes post-infidelity. In recent years, researchers have found that self-forgiveness after an interpersonal offense can aid individuals in healing intrapersonally and interpersonally. Self-forgiveness research even suggests a connection between genuine self-forgiveness and relationship satisfaction. The current study set out to explore the possible intrapersonal and interpersonal healing effects of self-forgiveness after participating in infidelity. For this study, individuals who participated in infidelity within the past two years and are still with the partner they betrayed were recruited. With support of affect theory of social exchange, a path model was hypothesized showing potential connections between self-forgiveness, intrapersonal affect, relationship closeness, relationship maintenance behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. Path model analyses revealed that genuine self-forgiveness was positively related to positive affect, closeness, positive maintenance behaviors, and relationship satisfaction. Simultaneously, pseudo self-forgiveness and self-punitiveness were positively related to negative affect and negative maintenance behaviors, and inversely related to closeness and relationship satisfaction. Limitations, future directions, and practical implications of the study findings are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Schmuck, Dominic, "The influence of self-forgiveness on relationship satisfaction post-infidelity." (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3474.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/3474
