An investigation of forgiveness in an honor culture

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and

Dissertations

2019

An investigation of forgiveness in an honor culture

Vanessa A. Castillo

Iowa State University

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Recommended Citation

Castillo, Vanessa A., "An investigation of forgiveness in an honor culture" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 16982.

https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/16982

An investigation of forgiveness in an honor culture

by

Vanessa A. Castillo

A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Major: Psychology

Program of Study Committee:

Susan E. Cross, Major Professor

Carolyn E. Cutrona

Loreto R. Prieto

The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the

program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this thesis. The Graduate

College will ensure this thesis is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a

degree is conferred.

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa

2019

Copyright © Vanessa A. Castillo, 2019. All rights reserved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................iv

LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................. v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................vi

ABSTRACT……………………………….....................................................................vii

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION. ..................................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 2

Confronting or Withdrawing after Conflict ................................................................. 4

Forgiving or Holding a Grudge after Conflict ............................................................. 6

Conceptualization of Forgiveness.......................................................................... 7

Forgiveness and Reputation................................................................................... 8

Hypotheses ............................................................................................................... 12

Research Overview .................................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER 3. PILOT STUDY 1...................................................................................... 14

Method ....................................................................................................................... 14

Participants........................................................................................................... 14

Measures.............................................................................................................. 14

Conflict content........................................................................................... 14

Forgiveness measures ................................................................................. 15

Conflict responses....................................................................................... 15

Demographics............................................................................................. 16

Procedure ............................................................................................................. 16

Results and Discussion .............................................................................................. 17

CHAPTER 4. PILOT STUDY 2...................................................................................... 22

Method ....................................................................................................................... 22

Participants........................................................................................................... 22

Measures and Materials ....................................................................................... 23

Conflict scenarios........................................................................................... 23

Attention checks............................................................................................. 24

Revenge and avoidance motivation ............................................................... 24

Procedure ............................................................................................................. 25

Results........................................................................................................................ 25

iii

CHAPTER 5. PRIMARY STUDY.................................................................................. 28

Method ....................................................................................................................... 29

Participants........................................................................................................... 29

Measures.............................................................................................................. 30

Conflict scenarios........................................................................................... 30

Morality judgements...................................................................................... 30

Prevention focus............................................................................................. 31

Demographics................................................................................................ 32

Data cleaning ................................................................................................. 32

Procedure ............................................................................................................. 33

Results........................................................................................................................ 34

Manipulation Checks........................................................................................... 35

How Do Latinx and Northern European Americans Evaluate Responses to

Conflict?............................................................................................................... 36

Masculine scenario......................................................................................... 36

Family scenario.............................................................................................. 39

Feminine scenario .......................................................................................... 41

Does Prevention Focus Explain the Interaction of Cultural Group Reactions

on Morality Judgements?..................................................................................... 44

Masculine scenario......................................................................................... 45

Family scenario.............................................................................................. 45

Feminine scenario .......................................................................................... 45

Discussion.................................................................................................................. 46

Limitations and Future Directions....................................................................... 50

Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 52

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 54

APPENDIX A. PILOT STUDY 1 MEASURES............................................................. 62

APPENDIX B. PILOT STUDY 2 SCENARIOS ............................................................ 64

APPENDIX C. PRIMARY STUDY: SCENARIOS AND ALTERNATIVE ENDINGS

.................................................................................................................. 66

APPENDIX D. PRIMARY STUDY: MEASURES........................................................ 68

APPENDIX E. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL FORM................ 70

iv

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1 Mediated Moderation Model ........................................................................... 11

Figure 2 Effects of Conflict Reactions on Morality Judgement for Each Reputation

Threat Scenario................................................................................................ 44

v

LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1 Categories of Conflicts Recalled in Pilot Study 1 ........................................... 18

Table 2 Conflict Characteristics from Pilot Study 1 ..................................................... 20

Table 3 Relationships Between Participants and Offenders in Pilot Study 1 ............... 20

Table 4 Scenario Ratings from Pilot Study 2................................................................ 27

Table 5 Analysis of Revenge and Avoidance Motivations for Latinx Americans

and Northern European Americans................................................................... 27

Table 6 Percent of Participants who Correctly Identified the Offender ....................... 33

Table 7 Correlations and Descriptive Statistics for Latinx and Northern European

American ......................................................................................................... 35

Table 8 Manipulation Checks by Cultural Group......................................................... 37

Table 9 ANOVA and Simple Effects for Masculine Reputation Threat Scenario ....... 39

Table 10 ANOVA and Simple Effects for Family Reputation Threat Scenario............. 41

Table 11 ANOVA and Simple Effects for Feminine Reputation Threat Scenario......... 43

Table 12 Mediated Moderation Model ........................................................................... 47

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Susan E. Cross, for her guidance and

support throughout the course of this research. I would also like to thank my committee members

for their support and feedback in this process.

I would not be able to conduct this research without the assistance of my colleagues at

Texas A&M and the University of Texas. Also, I want to offer my appreciation to those who

were willing to participate in my surveys, without whom, this thesis would not have been

possible.

Last but not least, I am very grateful for the constant love and support from my mother

and my partner.