 The transforming power of self-forgiveness in the aftermath of wrongdoingMadeline Ong Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2023, vol. 176, issue C Abstract: This paper explores the impact of self-forgiveness on transgressors’ self-improvement motivation and their subsequent moral disengagement and unethical behavior. It also investigates whether self-forgiveness might be more critical for transgressors with a fixed mindset compared to those with a growth mindset. Eight studies (Total N = 2,522), in which self-forgiveness was both measured (Studies 1a to 3) and experimentally manipulated (Studies 4 and 5), were conducted to test the proposed theoretical model. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that when transgressors forgive themselves for a transgression, they show greater self-improvement motivation, and therefore are less likely to morally disengage and commit another transgression. Furthermore, self-forgiveness offers greater benefits for transgressors with a fixed mindset than those with a growth mindset. These findings highlight the transforming power of self-forgiveness, particularly for individuals with a fixed mindset. Keywords: Self-forgiveness; Self-improvement motivation; Unethical behavior; Implicit theories; Fixed mindset; Growth mindset (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:176:y:2023:i:c:s0749597823000122 DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104237 Access Statistics for this article Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes is currently edited by John M. Schaubroeck More articles in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes from Elsevier |
Is your work missing from RePEc? Here is how to contribute.
Questions or problems? Check the EconPapers FAQ or send mail to .
EconPapers is hosted by the
School of Business at Örebro University.