Forgiveness and Implicit Theories in Early Adolescents

The aim of my research has been to test implicit theory change as a way to help young adolescents forgive a peer who hurt them deeply. The first of two studies showed that those holding an incremental theory of attribution are more forgiving than those holding an entity view. Overall feelings of vulnerability to future hurt were higher for entity theorists. The second study measured the impact an inter-vention, designed to change ones implicit theory from entity toward an incremental view, would have on levels of forgiveness, expectations of future hurt, and levels of anger. Findings showed a significant interaction between the experimental and control groups in favor of the intervention demonstrated by an increase in forgiveness for the experimental group at two different post-tests, and a decrease in the concern for future hurt at the second post test. It is my hope that this line of research will help educators and clinicians to reduce peer rejection and its negative outcomes.