Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
RFS subscales were positively correlated with the EFI (Forgiveness AN, r5.52; Forgiveness PP, r5.75;
Rye et al., 2001 ) and RFS total was positively correlated with an observer measure of forgiveness ( r5.32;
Rye et al., 2005 ).
Divergent/Discriminant
The RFS has been negatively related to mental health measures such as state anger (Forgiveness AN, r52.41;
Forgiveness PP, r52.13), trait anger (Forgiveness AN, r52.34; Forgiveness PP, r52.21). Rye et al. (2001)
found the RFS to be weakly related to the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale ( Crowne & Marlow, 1960 ;
Forgiveness AN, r5.16; Forgiveness PP, r5.22).
Construct/Factor Analytic
A principal components analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation ( N5328), resulted in extraction of two orthogo-
nal components labeled: the Absence of Negative subscale (Forgiveness AN) and The Presence of Positive sub-
scale (Forgiveness PP), as mentioned above ( Rye et al., 2001 ). Although a three component solution was also
feasible, the third component was dropped because it loaded substantially ( $.40) on only two of the RFS items.
Criterion/Predictive
Forgiveness interventions have resulted in increased scores on the RFS ( Rye et al., 2012; Rye & Pargament,
2002; Rye et al., 2005 ). RFS scores also have been positively predictive of mental health measures such as existen-
tial well-being (Forgiveness AN, r5.40; Forgiveness PP, r5.21), and religious well-being (Forgiveness AN,
r5.20; Forgiveness PP, r5.30).
Location
Rye, M.S., Loiacono, D.M., Folck, C.D., Olszewski B.T., Heim, T.A., & Madia, B.P. (2001). Evaluation of the psy-
chometric properties of two forgiveness scales. Current Psychology ,20, 260/C0277.
Results and Comments
The RFS subscales enable researchers to examine whether aspects of forgiveness (i.e., Absence of Negative,
Presence of Positive) relate differentially to constructs of interest. Similar to the TRIM, researchers can separate
the reduction of negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which could occur in many ways that do not involve
forgiving ( Wade & Worthington, 2003 ) from the presence of positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which
probably arise from forgiving. The RFS subscales can be combined to create a total RFS score. Evidence support-
ing the validity of the RFS scores comes from relationships with scores on other measures of forgiveness (self
and observer report), scores on measures of mental health variables, and also from the finding that scores
increase following forgiveness interventions. The RFS has been translated into several languages including
Portuguese ( Neto, Ferreira, & Pinto, 2007 ), Chinese ( Wang, 2008 ), Kinyarwana (translator: Carly Raby), Kannada
(translator: Shanmukh Kamble), and Korean (translator: Dong Hwan Lim). A variety of studies have shown that
the RFS has strong psychometric properties with diverse populations, cultures, and languages.
RYE FORGIVENESS SCALE
Think of how you have responded to the person
who has wronged or mistreated you. Indicate the degree to
which you agree or disagree wit h the following statements.
123 4 5
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
disagree agree
____1. I can’t stop thinking about how I was wronged
by this person. (R)____2. I wish for good things to happen to the person
who wronged me.
____3. I spend time thinking about ways to get back
at the person who wronged me. (R)
____4. I feel resentful toward the person who
wronged me. (R)
____5. I avoid certain people and/or places because
they remind me of the person who wronged
me. (R)
____6. I pray for the person who wronged me.483 STATES OF FORGIVENESS
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES