Location
Berry, J.W., Worthington, E.L., Jr., O’Connor, L., Parrott, L. III, & Wade, N.G. (2005). Forgivingness, vengeful
rumination, and affective traits. Journal of Personality, 73 , 183/C0225.
Results and Comments
Studies suggest that the TFS measures trait forgivingness in a rapid self-report format. The TFS has been used
across a variety of populations. PsycINFO (accessed December 6, 2013) lists 117 citations of the article, suggesting
widespread usage. Trait forgivingness has been related to many other personality characteristics (see Fehr et al.,
2010) and mental health (see Griffin, Worthington, Wade, Hoyt, and Davis in press ) and physical health indices
(Worthington et al., 2007b ).
TRAIT FORGIVINGNESS SCALE
Directions : Indicate the degree to which you agree or
disagree with each statement below by using the follow-
ing scale:
55Strongly Agree
45Mildly Agree
35Agree and Disagree Equally
25Mildly Disagree
15Strongly Disagree
____1. People close to me probably think I hold a
grudge too long.
____2. I can forgive a friend for almost anything.
____3. If someone treats me badly, I treat him or
her the same.
____4. I try to forgive others even when they don’t
feel guilty for what they did.____5. I can usually forgive and forget an insult.
____6. I feel bitter about many of my relationships.
____7. Even after I forgive someone, things often
come back to me that I resent.
____8. There are some things for which I could
never forgive even a loved one.
____9. I have always forgiven those who have
hurt me.
____10. I am a forgiving person.
Scoring Instructions: Reverse score the following
items: 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8. Add the scores on each item.
The range is from 10 to 50. High Scores will indicate
more trait forgivingness.
Reproduced with permission.
MEASURES OF STATE SELF-FORGIVENESS
State Self-Forgiveness Scale (SSFS)
(Wohl et al., 2008).
Variable
The SSFS is the first self-report measure of one’s current feelings of self-forgiveness regarding a particular
wrongdoing. Whereas trait self-forgivingness had been measured for years (see Thompson et al., 2005 ), states of
self-forgiveness had been inferred by assessing reduced regret and remorse or by excusing one’s own transgres-
sions (see Fisher & Exline, 2006 ).
Description
The original version of the SSFS was composed of 30 rationally-derived items but was revised to contain 18
items. An unrestricted EFA found that responses grouped along a Self-Forgiveness Feelings and Actions (SFFA)
subscale and a Self-Forgiveness Behaviors (SFB) subscale. The first eight items (i.e., ‘As I consider what I did that
was wrong, I punish myself’) load onto the SFFA; the following nine (i.e., ‘As I consider what I did that was
wrong, I believe I am worthy of love’) load onto the SFB. The final item provides a validity check for the measure
at large (‘As I consider what I did that was wrong, I have forgiven myself’). Responses to items on each subscale
range from 1 5not at all to 45completely (Wohl et al., 2008 ).495 MEASURES OF STATE SELF-FORGIVENESS
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES