How do emotions influence the tendency, ability, and willingness to forgive a transgression and how does forgiving a transgressor influence one’s emotions? How does forgiveness differ from pardoning, excusing, or condoning? What are the reasons to forgive rather than to opt for revenge, retaliation, or punishment? What is the role of social relations in granting and receiving forgiveness and which kinds of transgressions can be forgiven?

Current research suggests that forgiveness entails a decision to forgive based on moral reasons and the transformation of negative into positive emotions towards a transgressor. Because forgiveness is valued as morally good and considered virtuous in almost any known culture, the project aims at identifying basic mechanisms and cultural codifications of forgiveness alike. This is accomplished by analyzing the emotional antecedents and social and emotional consequences of forgiveness using representative survey data, in-depth interviews, and experimental designs.

Publications

Fatfouta, R., Jacobs, A., Merkl, A. (2012, Im Druck). Towards a Multifaceted Understanding of Revenge and Forgiveness. Behavioral and Brain Sciences.

Fücker, S. (2012, Im Druck). Negotiating Reciprocity. Rituals in an Intercultural Neighbourhood. Soeffner, H.-G., Zifonun, D., Leontiy, H. (Eds.). Ritual-Change and Social Transformation in Migrant Societies: A Comparative Perspective. Bern: Peter Lang-Verlag.

Fücker, S., von Scheve, C. (2012, Im Druck). Emotionen und Gewalt. Gudehus, Ch., Christ, M., Welzer, H. (Eds.). Gewalt. Ein interdisziplinäres Handbuch. Stuttgart/Weimar: J.B. Metzler.