The validation analysis of the forgiving personality scale

North (1987) has stated that forgiveness occurs when the injured person is able to view the offender with compassion and love even though anger and retaliation-might be expected. To date, forgiveness has been conceptualized and measured in a variety of ways. The present research attempted to validate the Forgiving Personality Scale (FP); an instrument developed to measure an individual's general inclination to forgive across time and situations. Part I of study I sought to examine the direct comparison of FP scores with alternate self-report measures of forgiveness. Part II of study I compared FP scores to measures of relevant interpersonal, emotional and personality constructs. Study n assessed the comparison of self-reported FP scores to FP ratings by family and friends. Results indicated that FP was significantly related to altemate measures of forgiveness suggesting the convergent validity of FP. Furthermore, FP was directly related to most of the positive characteristics and inversely related to most of the negative characteristics, thereby suggesting the construct validity of FP. Also, FP scores were significantly related to ratings by family and friends thereby demonstrating the non- test validity and visibility of the FP scale. These findings thus support the validity of interpretations of the FP scale scores and the expectation that Forgiveness is a 'visible' personality and interpersonal construct.