It is not just about you: A dialogic approach to forgiveness

• Main Author: Lynda S. Brown
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Berlin Regener Publishing House 2011-04-01
• Series: Conflict & Communication Online
• Subjects: Martin Buber; forgiveness; interpersonal process; dialog; authentic communication
• Online Access: http://www.cco.regener-online.de/2011_1/pdf/brown.pdf

How do I forgive thee? Let me count the ways. For the most part, scholars started examining the phenomenon of forgiveness about a decade ago, and are divided in their approaches-forgiveness as an individual response, or an interpersonal process; further, there is limited investigation to how people can forgive (Waldron & Kelley, 2005, 2008). This article, conceptually informed by Martin Buber's dialogic theory, orients forgiveness as an interpersonal process which shifts the focus of attention for both the forgiver and forgiven; and maintains that the potential for making strides towards relationship repair is predicated on the willingness of both people to be open to dialogging, and being authentic and honest in their communications.