Scale Overview
The Decisional Forgiveness Scale and Emotional Forgiveness Scale (DFS & EFS) was developed by Everett L. Worthington Jr., Joshua N. Hook, Shawn O. Utsey, Jennings K. Williams, & Rachel L. Neil (2007). It is designed to measure Decisional and Emotional Forgiveness. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 16 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Prosocial Intention, Inhibition of Harmful Intention, Presence of Positive Emotion, Reduction of Negative Emotion.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Prosocial Intention |
2,3,5,7 |
4 |
| Inhibition of Harmful Intention |
1,4,6,8 |
4 |
| Presence of Positive Emotion |
9,12,14,16 |
4 |
| Reduction of Negative Emotion |
10,11,13,15 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 8 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 16 to 80. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Forgiveness: 16 – 37
- Moderate Forgiveness: 38 – 59
- High Forgiveness: 60 – 80
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.