Description

The Forgiveness Likelihood Scale (FLS) is a psychometric tool designed to measure an individual’s likelihood of forgiving someone who has hurt them. This scale examines the disposition and readiness of an individual to forgive, taking into account various scenarios and circumstances. The FLS was developed to assist researchers in understanding individual differences in the tendency to forgive.

Objective

The primary objective of the FLS is to provide a reliable and valid measure of forgiveness likelihood. This tool helps researchers and clinicians understand the factors that influence an individual’s ability and willingness to forgive. It is widely used in research settings to study the relationship between forgiveness and psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, and social behaviors.

Analysis

The FLS consists of a series of scenarios that describe different situations in which a person may have been hurt by another. Participants are asked to assess the likelihood of forgiving the offender in each scenario.
Examples of Scenarios:
Personal Insult Scenario:
“A friend said something offensive about you behind your back. How likely is it that you will forgive them?”
Professional Harm Scenario:
“A colleague took credit for a project that you did. How likely is it that you will forgive them?”
Infidelity Scenario:
“Your partner admits to having had a brief affair with someone else. How likely is it that you will forgive them?”

Scoring

The FLS is scored using Likert scales, where participants rate the likelihood of forgiving in each scenario on a scale from 1 (very unlikely) to 5 (very likely). Responses are collected and analyzed to generate overall scores that indicate the individual’s general tendency to forgive. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of forgiveness.

References

Rye, M. S., & Loiacono, D. M. (2002). Forgiveness and romantic relationships in college: Can it heal the wounded heart? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(4), 419-441.
McCullough, M. E., Worthington, E. L., & Rachal, K. C. (1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 321-336.
Exline, J. J., Baumeister, R. F., Zell, A. L., Kraft, A. J., & Witvliet, C. V. O. (2008). Not so innocent: Does seeing one’s own capability for wrongdoing predict forgiveness? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(3), 495-515.
Toussaint, L., & Webb, J. R. (2005). Theoretical and empirical connections between forgiveness, mental health, and well-being. In E. L. Worthington (Ed.), Handbook of Forgiveness (pp. 349-362). Routledge.