Interpersonal forgiveness, trust, and the investment model of commitment

Abstract

In an effort to extend a portion of the mutual cyclical growth model of relationships (Wieselquist, Rusbult, Foster, & Agnew, 1999), the present research examined the prediction that being forgiven by a partner may bolster one’s trust in the partner. Results of a correlational survey study of individuals in dating relationships provided support for the hypotheses that: perception of a partner’s forgiveness predicts trust in the partner; trust predicts relationship satisfaction and (perhaps) investments in the relationship; and satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment size predict commitment to the relationship. Furthermore, comparison of alternative structural equation models suggests that trust, satisfaction, and investments mediate the association between a partner’s forgiveness and commitment. Several lines of future research are discussed.