Personality Patterns and Forgiveness Among University Students in Ardabil, Iran

Background: Forgiveness is associated with many psychological and personality factors such as severe and clinical personality patterns. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the role of severe and clinical personality patterns in prediction of forgiveness in a sample of university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 375 students (175 female, 200 male) from university of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2012-2013. The subjects were asked to fill out Millon clinical multiaxial inventory-III and interpersonal forgiveness inventory. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analysis at 95% significance level. Results: The results showed that schizoid (r = -0.28), avoidant (r = -0.38), depressive (r = -0.38), dependent (r = -0.37), negativistic (r = - 0.44), masochistic (r=-0.52), schizotypal (r=-0.43), borderline (r=-0.41), andparanoid (r=-0.55) personality patternswerenegatively associated with forgiveness. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that paranoid and borderline personality patterns among severe personality patterns, and masochistic, antisocial, narcissistic, and negativistic personality patterns among clinical personality patterns were significant predictors of forgiveness (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings of the present study identified individuals’ ability and capacity in relation to forgiveness; accordingly, it gave a realistic vision for experts and consultants in resolving interpersonal conflicts and therefore, developed the existing knowledge in the area of forgiveness.