This study was concerned with examining the effect of different attributions on the ease of forgiveness in a college student population. It was hypothesized that when negative behavior was attributed to the offender's negative disposition, participants would find it more difficult to forgive. In contrast, when participants were made to reflect on the positive characteristics of the offender, they would find it easier to forgive. Forgiveness would also be easier when a situational attribution was suggested. Responding to scenarios describing minor interpersonal offenses between friends, participants reported ease of forgiveness consistent with the hypotheses.

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