Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS)
18 items | Can you forgive?
Forgiveness isn't about condoning -- it's about letting go. This test measures how readily you forgive yourself, forgive others, and accept situations beyond anyone's control. 18 items, 7-point scale.
What Is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is not about excusing bad behavior or pretending something didn't hurt. It's about letting go of resentment so it stops weighing you down.
The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) measures forgiveness across three directions — Thompson et al. (2005) designed it as an 18-item, 7-point scale covering self, others, and situations you can't control.
Three Dimensions, 18 Items
- Forgiveness of Self (6 items): letting go of anger toward your own mistakes
- Forgiveness of Others (6 items): releasing resentment toward people who hurt you
- Forgiveness of Situations (6 items): accepting circumstances beyond anyone's control (illness, natural disasters, bad luck)
Psychometric Properties
- Internal consistency: total alpha = .86-.89, subscales = .72-.78
- Test-retest (3 weeks): total .77
- Correlates negatively with depression, anxiety, and rumination; positively with life satisfaction and positive affect
Result Interpretation
After completing the 18 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.