Why People Do Not Forgive? An Exploratory Study of Unforgiveness among Indian Adolescents

Unforgiveness, holding negative emotions towards the transgressor consciously, has either been considered less important for mental health and well-being or has long been ignored as a worthy psychological construct for further investigation. Worthington and Wade (1999) firstly proposed that forgiveness and unforgiveness are distinct but related constructs. Many other researchers showed its negative and positive impacts on mental health and well-being of adults. But the unforgiveness experiences of adolescents were left untouched. The present study examined adolescents’ experiences of unforgiveness using a qualitative research design. Twenty-nine participants (14-18 years) were interviewed. The interview contents were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the thematic analysis method. Three themes were generated. Transgressions faced by the adolescents, reasons for not forgiving the offender, and consequences of unforgiveness. Harassment, unethical behaviour, and threat to personal and social regard were some major types of transgressions reported by the adolescents as unforgivable. Cheating and misconduct, continuous harm, and unacceptability of behaviours were the reasons highlighted by them as reasons for not forgiving the offender, while positive and negative feelings were reported as consequences of unforgiveness by the adolescents. The study findings may have significant implications for theory and practice. For example, adolescence is considered to be the most critical period of human life, and the experiences of adolescents may affect their entire life. Understanding and resolving unforgiveness experiences in adolescents may help them to adjust with the difficulties and challenges of their adult lives.