Investigate the mediating role of self-conscious emotions in the relationship between personality traits and forgiveness

Intrudoction: Forgiveness is an inner desire that leads people to refrain from unpleasant communication responses and to behave positively towards someone who has treated them negatively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of self-conscious emotions in the relationship between personality traits and forgiveness. The design of the present study was a descriptive (non-experimental) type of structural equation modeling. The sample consisted of 411 people who were randomly sampled from Karaj health centers in summer of 1977. The participants responded to the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI) questionnaire, the third revised version of the Adult Self-Awareness Scale (TOSCA-3), and the Vote et al. (2001). The results of structural equation modeling showed that openness and agreeableness had a direct positive effect on forgiveness. The direct effect of neuroticism on forgiveness was negative and significant. Self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt had a positive effect on forgiveness and pride had a positive effect on forgiveness. The indirect effects of personality traits on forgiveness were significant, indicating the mediating role of conscious emotions. The results show that forgiveness as a positive behavioral outcome can be a result of the structural interaction of personality traits and self-conscious emotions.