Understanding of the functions of forgiveness among preschoolers

Toda, Rizu; Toda, Nazu; Hagihara, Hiromichi et al.

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2024, 247, 106036

Number of Access:373（2025-07-18 09:55 Counts）

Identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11094/98178

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Title
Understanding of the functions of forgiveness among preschoolers
Creator
CreatorName
Toda, Rizu
CreatorName
Toda, Nazu
NRID
1000000907735 1000000907735
researchmap permalink
hagiii hagiii
CreatorName
Hagihara, Hiromichi
NRID
1000030742217 1000030742217
researchmap permalink
7000008067 7000008067
Scopus Author ID
36102980500 36102980500
ORCID
0000-0003-0636-1619 0000-0003-0636-1619
CreatorName
Kanakogi, Yasuhiro
Subject
Forgiveness
Interpersonal relationship
Moral understanding
Prosocial behavior
Transgression
Young children
Description
Toda R., Toda N., Hagihara H., et al. Understanding of the functions of forgiveness among preschoolers. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 247, 106036 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106036.
Abstract
Forgiveness plays an important role in restoring and maintaining cooperative relationships. Previous studies have demonstrated that young children could forgive transgressors both as a third party and as a victim. However, the research on young children's understanding of forgiveness is scant. This study focused on the two main functions of forgiveness—the restoration of a damaged relationship between the victim and the transgressor and the positive emotional change in the victim toward the transgressor. In this study, 48 4-year-olds (25 girls), 50 5-year-olds (21 girls), and 50 6-year-olds (21 girls) in Japan heard stories in which a victim either did or did not forgive a transgressor. They answered questions about the relationship between the victim and the transgressor and the victim's feelings toward the transgressor. Regarding the restoration of a damaged relationship, 4- to 6-year-olds understood that the restoration could occur in the presence of forgiveness. Yet, 6-year-olds showed more distinctive belief than 4- and 5-year-olds that the damaged relationship remains unrestored without forgiveness from the victim. For emotional changes, 6-year-olds understood that the forgiving victim would experience positive emotional changes, whereas the unforgiving victim would not. However, 4- and 5-year-olds expected positive emotional changes even without forgiveness, although they anticipated greater changes after forgiveness. The results show that the understanding of the important functions of forgiveness is present at 4 years of age and matures by 6 years of age. Children may develop a sophisticated understanding of the functions of forgiveness later than the actual forgiving behavior.
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Source Title
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Volume (Issue)
247
Page
106036
Date of Issued
2024-11-01
Language
English
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/11094/98178
PISSN
00220965
eISSN
10960457
Relation.isIdenticalTo
DOI (Publisher Version)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106036
Access Rights
open access
CopyRight
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
oaire:version
Version of Record
Category
学術雑誌論文 Journal Article