A Phenomenological Analysis of Couples’ Lived Experiences of Forgiveness Following Severe Conflict
Keywords:
Forgiveness, Severe Conflict, Couples, Phenomenology, Marital Relationships, Relationship RepairAbstract
The purpose of this study was to explore and explicate the structure of couples’ lived experiences of the forgiveness process following severe marital conflict. This qualitative study employed an interpretive phenomenological approach. Participants were married couples from Tehran who had experienced at least one severe and destabilizing conflict and were engaged in relationship repair. Purposeful sampling was used, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Credibility was enhanced through participant validation and peer review. Data analysis yielded six core themes: initial emotional shock, internal struggle prior to forgiveness, conscious decision to forgive, cognitive–emotional reconstruction, relationship repair, and psychological outcomes of forgiveness. Findings indicate that forgiveness is a dynamic, non-linear, and gradual process associated with reduced negative emotions, enhanced empathy, restoration of trust, and personal and relational growth. Forgiveness following severe conflict functions as a central mechanism for marital repair and promotes enduring psychological transformation and relational stability, underscoring its critical role in couple-based interventions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fereydon Eslami (Corresponding author); Neda Atapour (Author)
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