Forgiveness and Revenge: Empirical Study of Malaysian Business Employees

Abstract

Building on a previous work by Bradfield and Aquino (1999), this study examines factors influencing forgiveness and revenge cognition and behaviors among Malaysian executives. A questionnaire survey method was undertaken. Respondents were selected by using convenience sampling method from four Malaysian organizations. The findings from this study suggested that 1) that the contemplation of revenge or forgiveness is positively related to their behavioural equivalents: (2) that power asymmetries between the offender and the victim in a corporation has an influence on the forgiveness or revenge behaviour; (3) that revenge cognitions and behaviour in a corporation are influenced by the offence severity: and (4) that religion (especially), gender, and ethnic have asignificant influence to forgiveness cognitions and behaviours. Keywords: Revenge, Forgiveness, Religion, Malaysia, Empirical