寬恕 ，或饒恕 、原諒 ，是一種自願行爲，其中行爲人（即受害者）放棄針對加害方的消極感情（復仇 等），甚至還能為對方祝好[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] 赦免 則是由特定的社會代表（如法官 ）宣佈不再追究加害方的責任，未必代表受害人的主觀意見[ 2] [ 4] [ 5] 美德 ，宗教學 、心理學 和社會學 等學科會研究其作用及原理。
羅馬皇帝 馬爾庫斯·奧列里烏斯 饒恕被征服者，現藏於羅馬卡比托利歐博物館
親密關係 中與寬恕近似的情感心理學上尚未對寬恕的定義達成一致，不過最起碼它是一個延續的「過程」，同時心理學家已經提出了一系列描述此過程的模型[ 6] 神經質 和易怒的人即使在很長一段時間之後也很難原諒加害者，甚至會籌劃報復行爲[ 7]
而容易原諒別人的人通常活得更加開心、健康[ 8] 循環系統 及神經系統 都比不容易原諒他人者更加健康[ 9] [ 10] 斯坦福大學 的弗雷德·拉斯金（Fred Luskin）博士發現可以通過學習使得人更加寬容，從而更加健康[ 11] [ 12]
Graham, Michael C. Facts of Life: ten issues of contentment. Outskirts Press. 2014: 268. ISBN 978-1-4787-2259-5 Cordova, J., Cautilli, J., Simon, C. & Axelrod-Sabtig, R (2006). Behavior Analysis of Forgiveness in Couples Therapy. IJBCT, 2(2), Pg. 192 BAO 網際網路檔案館 的存檔 ，存檔日期2008-03-09. Maltby, J., Wood, A. M., Day, L., Kon, T. W. H., Colley, A., and Linley, P. A. (2008). Personality predictors of levels of forgiveness two and a half years after the transgression. （頁面存檔備份 ，存於網際網路檔案館 ） Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 1088-1094. Van Oyen, C. Witvilet, T.E. Ludwig and K. L. Vander Lann, "Granting Forgiveness or Harboring Grudges: Implications for Emotions, Physiology and Health," Psychological Science no. 12 (2001):117-23
S. Sarinopoulos, "Forgiveness and Physical Health: A Doctoral Dissertation Summary," World of Forgiveness no. 2 (2000): 16-18
Balancing the Scales of Justices with Forgiveness and Repentance , Randall J. Cecrle, 2007, ISBN 1-60266-041-7 The Power of Forgiveness , Marcus G. 2011, Sapients.NetRadical Forgiveness: Making Room for the Miracle , Colin Tipping, 1997, ISBN 0-9704814-1-1 Forgiving and Not Forgiving: Why Sometimes It's Better Not to Forgive , Jeanne Safer, 2000, ISBN 0-380-79471-3 Forgiveness: a Philosophical Exploration (Cambridge University Press, 2007), by Charles Griswold. ISBN 978-0-521-70351-2 .
Hein, David. "Regrets Only: A Theology of Remorse." The Anglican 33, no. 4 (October 2004): 5-6.
Hein, David. Austin Farrer on Justification and Sanctification. The Anglican Digest . 2007, 49 (1): 51–54. Konstan, David, Before Forgiveness: The Origins of a Moral Idea (Cambridge/New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
Kramer, J. and Alstad D., The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power, 1993, ISBN 1-883319-00-5
Lampert, K.(2005); Traditions of Compassion: From Religious Duty to Social Activism. Palgrave-Macmillan; ISBN 1-4039-8527-8
Fred Luskin, Ph.D. Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness (Harper, 2002)
Murphy, J. and Hampton, J. Forgiveness and Mercy (Cambridge University Press, 1988).
Norlock, K. Forgiveness from a Feminist Perspective (Lexington Books, 2009).
Pettigrove, G. Forgiveness and Love (Oxford University Press, 2012).
Schmidt D. (2003); The Prayer of Revenge: Forgiveness in the Face of Injustice; ISBN 0-7814-3942-6
Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life , Susan Forward, 1990.The Railway Man: A POW's Searing Account of War, Brutality, and Forgiveness , Eric Lomax, 
