It is generally believed that forgiveness is a constructive strategy in conflict resolution and relationship repair. Recently, management scholars have shown a growing interest in forgiveness, and called for the development of a forgiving culture in organizations. However, understanding is limited regarding the consequences of forgiveness. After conflict has occurred within an organization, victims are associated with vulnerable images, which may elicit interpersonal penalties from their organizational peers. The literature has suggested that expressing forgiveness may help victims restore powerful images after conflict, but research has yet to demonstrate which forms of forgiveness are (in)effective, and for whom. In the present research, I explore observers’ impression of forg...[ Read more ]

It is generally believed that forgiveness is a constructive strategy in conflict resolution and relationship repair. Recently, management scholars have shown a growing interest in forgiveness, and called for the development of a forgiving culture in organizations. However, understanding is limited regarding the consequences of forgiveness. After conflict has occurred within an organization, victims are associated with vulnerable images, which may elicit interpersonal penalties from their organizational peers. The literature has suggested that expressing forgiveness may help victims restore powerful images after conflict, but research has yet to demonstrate which forms of forgiveness are (in)effective, and for whom. In the present research, I explore observers’ impression of forgiver power and later cooperation with the forgiver as novel outcomes of forgiveness. Further, I argue that these outcomes are influenced by factors involved in the communication of forgiveness. I particularly focus on forgiveness expression and forgiver gender, and found that female (vs. male) forgivers who expressed implicit (vs. explicit) forgiveness were perceived as having less power and subsequently provided with less cooperation. This research suggests that forgiveness is not always beneficial, and that communication and gender role theories can help inform the effectiveness of expressed forgiveness and its downstream consequences.

Keywords: Forgiveness, Communication, Gender, Perceived Power, Cooperation