When expressing forgiveness backfires in the workplace: victim power moderates the effect of expressing forgiveness on transgressor compliance

• Zheng, Michelle Xue 
• van Dijke, Marius 
• Narayanan, Jayanth 
• De Cremer, David 

Indexed by

SSCI Scopus ABDC-B

Abstract

Expressing　(vs.　withholding)　forgiveness　is　often　promoted　as　a　beneficial　response　for　victims.　In　the　present　research,　we　argue　that　withholding　(vs.　expressing)　forgiveness　can　also　be　beneficial　to　victims　by　stimulating　subsequent　transgressor　compliance　-　a　response　that　is　valuable　in　restoring　the　victim＇s　needs　for　control.　Based　on　deterrence　theory,　we　argue　that　a　victim＇s　withheld　(vs.　expressed)　forgiveness　promotes　transgressor　compliance　when　the　victim　has　low　power,　relative　to　the　transgressor.　This　is　because　withheld　(vs.　expressed)　forgiveness　from　a　low-power　victim　elicits　transgressor　fear.　On　the　other　hand,　because　people　are　fearful　of　high-power　actors,　high-power　victims　can　expect　high　levels　of　compliance　from　a　transgressor,　regardless　of　whether　they　express　forgiveness　or　not.　A　critical　incidents　survey　(Study　1)　and　an　autobiographic　recall　study　(Study　2)　among　employees,　as　well　as　a　laboratory　experiment　among　business　students　(Study　3),　support　these　predictions.　These　studies　are　among　the　first　to　reveal　that　withholding　forgiveness　can　be　beneficial　for　low-power　victims　in　a　hierarchical　context　-　ironically,　a　context　in　which　offering　forgiveness　is　often　expected.

Keyword

• compliance
• deterrence theory
• fear
• forgiveness
• Power

Author Community

[Zheng, Michelle Xue] CEIBS, Dept Org Behav & Human Resource Management, Shanghai, Peoples R China

[van Dijke, Marius] Erasmus Univ, Rotterdam Sch Management, Business & Soc Dept, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Nottingham Trent Univ, Nottingham Business Sch, Div Human Resource Management, Nottingham, England

[Narayanan, Jayanth] Int Inst Management Dev IMD, Dept Org Behav & Leadership, Lausanne, Switzerland; Natl Univ Singapore, Sch Business, Dept Management & Org, Singapore, Singapore

[De Cremer, David] Univ Cambridge, Judge Business Sch, Org Behav & Informat Syst Grp, Cambridge, England

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