Abstract

MARTINEZ, María José  and  PENATA, Alejandra. Forgiveness and Resilience: Reflections from the Experiences of Victims of the Colombian Armed Conflict in San Juan Nepomuceno, Montes de María, Colombia. rev.estud.soc. [online]. 2023, n.86, pp.103-136.  Epub Nov 01, 2023. ISSN 0123-885X.  https://doi.org/10.7440/res86.2023.07.

This article aims to explore the conceptions of forgiveness and resilience, and the relationship that may exist between them, from the perspective of victims of the Colombian armed conflict in the municipality of San Juan Nepomuceno in Montes de María. We followed an exploratory qualitative methodology with a descriptive and interpretative focus. The data was analyzed based on grounded theory, and a non-probabilistic snowball sampling approach was employed. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted including questions about forgiveness and resilience, whether victims believed forgiveness was possible, how they perceived resilience in their community, and their opinions on expressions of remorse by former members of armed groups. Within the framework of these two study categories, victims’ perspectives provided definitions of forgiveness and resilience. Forgiveness was described as a personal decision influenced by individual thinking, serving as a means to heal wounds and free oneself from negative emotions while not erasing the memory of past events. Resilience, on the other hand, was perceived as the individuals’ ability to navigate through challenges and traumatic situations, to explore alternative possibilities regardless of their available resources, and to empower themselves in order to enhance their own quality of life. Individual and collective coping strategies also came to light, encompassing practices such as art, dialogue, and communal memory processes.

Keywords : armed conflict; forgiveness; resilience; victims.

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