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Abstract:
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The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the conditions needed for historically
oppressed groups to forgive historical offenses and current experiences of racial/ethnic
offenses. This study includes a sample of 147 African Americans. Results indicate that
the condition needed for forgiving historical racial/ethnic offenses is different than that
required for forgiveness of current racial/ethnic offenses. Remorse, reparations, seeking
forgiveness and religion were found to be significant contributors to forgiving historical
racial offenses. On the other hand forgiving current experiences of racism was only
determined by personality characteristic of tendency to forgive. No age or gender
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differences were observed; however males were significantly more willing to forgive
current experiences of racism even though they reported more incidences of racism and
more racism related stress. Implications for these findings are discussed along with
recommendations for the counseling profession; counselor education and counselor
educators. |
