Abstract
Forgiveness is a construct experienced by all people across the world. Hence, it is vital for a forgiveness measure to ensure good and diverse cultural representation and inclusivity in its development, validation and usage. The 15-item Bolton Forgiveness scale (BFS) was developed to assess dispositional forgiveness. Items for the scale came from interviews with 53 Nigerian and British people, from existing scales and from the research literature. In the subsequent three part study, exploratory factor analysis with a student sample (N= 733) formed part one. Confirmatory factor analysis with a general sample (N= 2,017) was part two. This indicated a robust three factor structure. The three factors were; coming to terms and letting go (CTLG), developing positive feelings (DPF) and giving benefit of the doubt (GBD). In part three, the BFS was administered along with the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Questionnaire, the Heartland Forgiveness Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Scales and the mental health measures used by the Office of National Statistics. Finally, the current study provides a forgiveness definition as a process that involves developing and strengthening the capacity to give benefit of the doubt that enables the offended to come to terms with and let go of hurt with its negative affect thereby giving way gradually to positive feelings towards the transgressor. This measure offers a new culturally sensitive questionnaire to assess dispositional forgiveness.
Keywords; Forgiveness, Culture, Questionnaire, Psychometrics.