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Person-centered messages, attributions of responsibility, and the willingness to forgive parental infidelity
April, Morgan Elizabeth,author.
April, Morgan Elizabeth,author.
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2017
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Using the dual process theory of supportive communication (Burleson, 2009) and attribution theory (Fincham, Beach, Bradbury, 1989), this study tested the degree to which person-centered disclosures about parental infidelity are associated with young adult childrens attributions of responsibility for infidelity and willingness to forgive the offending parent. Additionally, this study used a socio-cultural perspective to investigate the degree to which the biological sex of the offending parent moderated the associations among person-centeredness, attributions of responsibility, and willingness to forgive. Participants included 299 young adults who were randomly assigned to hypothetical scenarios manipulating the person-centeredness of the nonoffending parents account of infidelity and the biological sex of the offending parent. Overall, the results provided minimal support for the theoretical line of reasoning advanced in this report. Although the person-centeredness of a nonoffending parents account did not predict young adult childrens willingness to forgive, the childrens attributions of responsibility for the offense did inversely predict their willingness to forgive. Likewise, the biological sex of the offending parent failed to moderate the combined associations between person-centeredness, attributions of responsibility, and willingness to forgive, although meaningful differences in attributions of responsibility and willingness to forgive did emerge based on the sex of the offending parent.The results of this study provide intriguing directions for both the dual process theory of supportive communication and attribution theory. The findings enhance our understanding of how person-centered messages function in contexts outside of social support. Moreover, the results lend further support to attribution theory by demonstrating that part of understanding and making sense of third-party relational transgressions involves assessments of blame for the individuals they believe are responsible.
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1 online resource (52 pages) :
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Communication Studies