Offering forgiveness can confer benefits to victims in terms of enhanced sense of self. In the present research, we argue that refusing to forgive may also promote psychological benefits. Across three studies, a recall design (N = 300), an experiment (N = 327), and its pre-registered replication (N = 296), we examined the potential psychological benefits of refusing forgiveness and offering forgiveness compared to inaction. We found that refusing forgiveness (vs. inaction) resulted in greater feelings of power (n.s. Study 1), greater value integrity, and mediated by these, refusing to forgive increased state self-esteem. We also found that offering forgiveness (vs. inaction) resulted in greater feelings of power (n.s. Studies 1 and 2), greater value integrity, and greater state self-esteem. These findings demonstrate that while offering and refusing to forgive may be opposing responses to transgressions, both actions can provide psychological benefits for victims. This research offers support to victims who wish to express their genuine feelings of unforgiveness because the act of refusing forgiveness can have psychological benefits.