Forgiveness and reconciliation in the context of the Colombian armed conflict

Forgiveness and reconciliation are important in the transformation of cultural practices within peace processes. This study aimed to find ideas and beliefs that Colombians have about forgiveness and reconciliation. It is a qualitative study that used Grounded Theory and was performed with a sample of 45 men and women aged 18-65 from low, middle and high layers of society. Data was collected by means of a semi-structured interview. We analysed the narratives of participants and found the following emerging analytical categories: definitions of forgiveness, facilitating factors for forgiveness, definitions of reconciliation, conditions for reconciliation, and citizen skills involved in forgiveness and reconciliation. Main findings included definitions of forgiveness as a process of replacing negative emotions felt towards an aggressor with positive emotions and forgetting the aggression. In several cases, there seemed to be no significant differences between forgiveness and reconciliation. Participants highlighted dialogue as an important need for both forgiveness and reconciliation, and they also identified a commitment to not repeat the aggression and the need for the aggressors to experience consequences for their offenses as key factors. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. on behalf of Colegio Oficial de Psicologos de Madrid.