“修己安人 cultivating oneself to benefit others”: A qualitative study on self-forgiveness in China.

Psychological research has made considerable inroads in studying self-forgiveness, as a process of restoration of a moral and positive self following transgression or failure. However, prior research has predominantly focused on Western contexts; or, where cultural influences were considered, it has relied on a dualist individualism–collectivism framework that maintained a Western perspective as comparison baseline. The present study explores self-forgiveness from within the Chinese cultural context, to deepen insights into how Chinese people understand, apply, and (if relevant) achieve self-forgiveness. Employing a qualitative methodology with 51 Chinese nationals, we identified four overarching themes representing Chinese conceptions and experiences of self-forgiveness: (a) be strict with self, (b) be benevolent to self, (c) be responsible to self, and (d) be harmonious with others. We interpreted the theme of “be harmonious with others” as central and connected to the other themes, while these themes also demonstrate the heterogeneity of human experience within culture. This research advances a nuanced understanding of the phenomenon of self-forgiveness in the Chinese context, providing potential language and concepts for counsellors and mental health professionals working with individuals of Chinese cultural backgrounds who have experienced failure or committed wrongs.