Paths to not forgiving: The roles of social isolation, retributive orientation, and moral emotions

The contributions of individual differences in social isolation and retribution orientation to explaining not forgiving (revenge and avoidance) were assessed in this study. I predicted that not forgiving was fueled by these basic individual difference orientations. Further, I examined the mediating role of inward-focused moral emotions (self-conscious moral emotions such as distress and shame) and outward-focused moral emotions (moral outrage) in explaining these relationships. Variables were assessed in 98 participants. Results showed that not forgiving was predicted by two indirect pathways. First, social isolation related to not forgiving indirectly through self-conscious moral emotions. Second, retribution orientation related to not forgiving indirectly through moral outrage. These findings support the idea that not forgiving involves the interplay of self and other focused individual difference factors via inward and outward focused distress.