Dr. Peter Strelan

Room 515, Hughes Building Phone +61(08) 8303 5662 Fax +61 (08) 8303 3770 peter.strelan@adelaide.edu.au

Course Coordinator Honours

Area of research

Social psychology, specifically, forgiveness, and social justice.

Psychology Research Interests

My research area is the scientific study of forgiveness, a construct whose potential as a legitimate alternative prosocial response to a perceived injustice until recently has been overlooked in psychology. Given the present international socio-political climate, there is now, more than ever, a need to better understand how forgiveness works, what motivates it, what it means to people, what are its costs and benefits, how it is developed, the conditions under which it is most likely to occur, its social influences, its role in groups, and its relationship to justice.   I am essentially interested in forgiveness within the context of social psychology, but also its relevance within other psychological contexts, for example, clinical and counselling, personality, cognition and emotion, organisational, developmental, and justice.   I also have research interests in the broader area of social psychology, specifically in social justice, and body image.

Recent Key Publications

Strelan P., Acton, C., & Patrick, K. (2009). Disappointment with God and wellbeing: The mediating influence of relationship quality and dispositional forgiveness. Counseling and Values, 53, 202-213.

Strelan, P., & Wotjysiak, N. (2009). Strategies for coping with interpersonal hurt: Preliminary evidence for the relationship between coping and forgiveness. Counseling and Values, 53, 97-111.

Strelan, P., Feather N. T., & McKee, I. (2008). Justice and forgiveness: Experimental evidence for compatibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 1538-1544.

Strelan, P. (2007). The prosocial, adaptive qualities of just world beliefs: Implications for the relationship between justice and forgiveness. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 881-890.

Strelan, P. (2007). Who forgives others, themselves, and situations? The roles of narcissism, guilt, self-esteem, and agreeableness. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 259-269.