Forgiveness (or mercy) is one of the 24 character strengths described by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, under the virtue of temperance. Psychologist Michael McCullough, one of the leading researchers on the topic, describes it as a shift in motivation toward the person who hurt you: less desire to avoid or get back at them, and more openness to goodwill.
- Low: it's hard for you to let go of resentment, even after time has passed.
- Moderate: you manage it sometimes, depending on the situation.
- High: you tend to move past being hurt without too much difficulty.
15 statements, about 3-4 minutes. Think about your usual pattern when someone hurts you, not a very recent or very serious offense.
All possible results
Low Forgiveness
It's hard for you to let go of resentment and move past being hurt, even after a reasonable amount of time has gone by.
Read more about Low Forgiveness
“Forgiving, according to Michael McCullough, isn't forgetting or excusing what happened: it's a shift in motivation toward the person who hurt you, with less desire to avoid or get back at them.”
What this score means
Your answers suggest you tend to hold onto the emotional intensity of being hurt for quite a while, and it's hard for you to let go of resentment even when the other person owns their mistake and apologizes.
How it shows up day to day
- You replay what someone did to you, even long after it happened.
- It's hard for you to keep a good relationship with someone after an offense, even if they've apologized.
- You generally need more than an apology to start moving past it.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by forgiveness as a character strength within Peterson and Seligman's classification (2004) and Michael McCullough's research (2000) on forgiveness: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional.
Moderate Forgiveness
You manage to forgive in some situations, but it depends quite a bit on how serious the hurt was and your relationship with the person.
Read more about Moderate Forgiveness
“Forgiveness isn't an all-or-nothing trait: most people forgive certain offenses or certain people more easily, and others with more difficulty.”
What this score means
Your answers show a middle-ground pattern: you tend to move past minor offenses fairly easily, but it's harder when the hurt was significant or when the person hasn't clearly owned their part.
How it shows up day to day
- You let most small conflicts go without dwelling on them much.
- It's somewhat harder for you to let go of resentment when the hurt was serious or repeated.
- You tend to give second chances, though not always with the same ease.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by forgiveness as a character strength within Peterson and Seligman's classification (2004) and Michael McCullough's research (2000) on forgiveness: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional.
High Forgiveness
You tend to move past being hurt without too much difficulty, even when it was significant.
Read more about High Forgiveness
“Forgiving easily doesn't mean downplaying the hurt: it means that hurt stops having the power to dictate how you feel or act long afterward.”
What this score means
Your answers show a strong capacity for letting go of resentment and moving forward, even in the face of offenses that genuinely hurt you. You tend to understand the context behind what the other person did, and you don't need them to "pay" for it in order to move past it.
How it shows up day to day
- Once a reasonable amount of time passes, you stop feeling the same emotional intensity about what happened.
- You can keep a good relationship with someone after an offense, if they own their mistake.
- You rarely bring up something someone did in the past as ammunition in a later argument.
An important clarification
This result is orientation-only and informational, inspired by forgiveness as a character strength within Peterson and Seligman's classification (2004) and Michael McCullough's research (2000) on forgiveness: it isn't a diagnosis and doesn't replace guidance from a qualified professional. Forgiving easily also doesn't mean you should tolerate harm that keeps repeating: those are separate issues.
Frequently asked questions
Does forgiving mean what happened was okay?
No. According to McCullough, forgiving is a shift in your own motivations toward the person who hurt you, not a statement that the hurt was justified, and not an obligation to stay in contact with that person.
Are forgiveness and reconciliation the same thing?
Not necessarily. You can forgive (stop feeling the same hostility) without reconciling (resuming the relationship), especially if the hurt was serious or keeps repeating.
Is it a bad thing to score low on forgiveness?
It isn't a moral judgment. Different people and cultures value forgiveness differently, and in some contexts (repeated harm, no acknowledgment) holding a boundary can be healthier than forgiving quickly.
Is this test reliable?
It's an orientation-only, informational approximation, not a validated clinical instrument like Peterson and Seligman's VIA-IS. For a deeper look, that academic questionnaire or support from a professional are the recommended path.
How long does the test take?
Between 3 and 4 minutes: 15 statements with five response options each.
Is it free?
Yes, it's completely free: no sign-up or payment needed to take the test and see your result.