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Examining Views and Attitudes About Forgiveness Among Teachers in the A rab World: A Comparison Between Five Communities
Author(s) -
Nasser Ilham,
AbuNimer Mohammed
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
peace and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1468-0130
pISSN - 0149-0508
DOI - 10.1111/pech.12185
Subject(s) - forgiveness , demographics , social psychology , psychology , psychological intervention , marital status , solidarity , conflict resolution , prosocial behavior , sociology , political science , social science , demography , psychiatry , politics , law , population
This study contributes to the literature on forgiveness attitudes, both on the conceptual and application levels in A rab society contexts. It highlights the importance of examining teachers’ views on forgiveness and suggests various directions for conducting further research and developing interventions to promote peaceful resolution of conflicts and to reduce violence in schools. Social and cultural considerations about forgiveness in hypothetical situations were examined among 490 teachers in elementary and secondary schools in various communities in the M iddle E ast. Data analysis suggested significant differences across communities and religions. Participating teachers from J ordan and the W est B ank showed less willingness to forgive, especially in situations related to family and close relationships, while teachers from L ebanon, followed by those from Egypt, showed higher tendencies to forgive. There were no significant differences in demographics such as gender, age, education, or marital status. These results will add to the understanding of social, cultural, and religious factors and their impact on teachers’ attitudes in A rab schools and other M uslim countries.