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The benefits of self-forgiveness on mental health: Evidence from correlational and experimental research
Abstract
Previous research on self-forgiveness is mixed. Some argue self-forgiveness may have a salutary influence on mental health problems following an offense, whereas others suggest it may provide an excuse to reoffend. In two studies, we provide correlational and experimental evidence for the salutary effects of self-forgiveness following an offense. In Study 1 (N = 100), self-forgiveness was associated with lower levels of disordered eating behavior. In Study 2 (N = 462), participants recalled a drinking-related transgression, and were randomly assigned to a self-forgiveness or neutral priming condition. Results revealed that participants in the self-forgiveness condition reported significantly more self-forgiving beliefs and fewer feelings of remorse and self-condemnation than participants in the neutral priming condition to the degree that participants believed their drinking was the cause of the offense. These findings highlight the salutary effects of self-forgiveness.
... Selfforgiveness in the face of such burdensome responsibility has been conceived as an adaptive coping strategy (Worthington & Scherer, 2004). Forgiving the self for harmful actions can yield positive outcomes such as reduced anxiety, depression, and a positive self-image (Davis et al., 2015;Jacinto, 2010;Peterson et al., 2017, Rohde-Brown & Rudestam, 2011Watson et al., 2012;Wohl et al., 2008). According to Hall and Fincham (2005), self-forgiveness can initiate a process of letting go of self-resentment while fostering more benevolent or accepting feelings and attitudes toward the self (see also Enright, 1996;Wohl et al., 2008;Worthington, 2006). ...
... However, the extant psychological literature on the behavioral consequences of self-forgiveness has yielded mixed results. Some studies suggest that self-forgiveness can help people to better themselves (see Peterson et al., 2017;Wohl et al., 2010). Other research, however, suggests that self-forgiveness can lead to a perpetuation of negative behaviors (e.g., smoking, gambling; Squires et al., 2012;Tangney et al., 2005;Wohl & Thompson, 2011). ...
... The findings of the research reported herein have a number of basic and applied implications. From a basic perspective, the social psychology literature has been dominated by research touting the functional benefits of self-forgiveness (see Peterson et al., 2017). Only recently have some researchers argued that self-forgiveness may have deleterious effects on both the mental and physical health of the self-forgiver (see Wohl & McLaughlin, 2014), in that it may maintain the (negative) behavioral status quo (e.g., Squires et al., 2012;Wohl & Thompson, 2011). ...
Self-forgiveness is typically understood as a process that prevents continued engagement in negative behavior. However, it can also have a dark side in that it can lead to continuing that negative behavior. In the current research, we examined self-forgiveness in the domain of overspending—a potentially self-harming behavior. We tested whether self-forgiveness for past overspending affected future spending as a function of individual differences in incremental theories about character. In two studies, we asked participants to recall a past overspending incident as well as the degree to which they forgive themselves for this overspending, and then assessed their spending during a grocery trip immediately afterwards (Study 1) or a shopping trip in the subsequent days (Study 2). In both studies, self-forgiveness for overspending was related to greater subsequent spending among incremental theorists, but not among entity theorists. These results extend current research on self-forgiveness by demonstrating that implicit theories can determine for whom self-forgiveness fosters positive behavioral change (entity theorists) and for whom self-forgiveness may maintain the self-harming behavior (incremental theorists).
... This study aimed at exploring the role of self-forgiveness on people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa. As indicated by many studies, self-forgiveness has a positive outcome on the health of people as it is with health behavior, reduce levels of stress and anxiety (Peterson et al., 2017). It is also said that it "Positively related to psychological well-being, life satisfaction, meaning, and general quality of mental health" and it negatively related to anxiety, traumatic symptoms, depression, suicide symptoms, and alcohol symptoms Peterson et al., 2017). ...
... As indicated by many studies, self-forgiveness has a positive outcome on the health of people as it is with health behavior, reduce levels of stress and anxiety (Peterson et al., 2017). It is also said that it "Positively related to psychological well-being, life satisfaction, meaning, and general quality of mental health" and it negatively related to anxiety, traumatic symptoms, depression, suicide symptoms, and alcohol symptoms Peterson et al., 2017). With all these self-forgiveness positive impacts on the health of people, it seems in South Africa (SA), out of all studies done few or no study focuses specifically on exploring the role of self-forgiveness on people living with HIV and AIDS as most of the studies have focused on self-forgiveness and mental health. ...
... The participants understanding of self-forgiveness correspond with definition of self-forgiveness which refers to admitting wrong, ready accountability, and a meaningful "shift in one's relationship to, reconciliation with, and acceptance of the self through human connectedness and commitment to change". It also falls within the Peterson et al. (2017) definition of self-forgiveness which is described as "a set of motivational changes whereby one becomes decreasingly motivated to avoid stimuli associated with the offense, decreasingly motivated to retaliate to act against the self (e.g. punish the self, engage in self-destructive behaviors, etc.) and increasingly motivated to act benevolently toward the self." ...
It is timely to have this kind of study in South Africa as the country has an increasing number of people living with HIV and AIDS. While an extensive literature has documented factors associated with HIV and AIDS, psychosocial variables associated with the health of persons living with HIV (PLH) have only begun to receive attention recently. The objective of this paper was to explore the views of a group of people living with HIV and AIDS regarding HIV and AIDS and Self-Forgiveness. Theoretical base: To examine the role of self-forgiveness in people living with HIV and AIDS, George Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model was adopted. Methods: Individual In-depth Interviews were conducted with 10 purposefully-selected participants in Ekurhuleni. Outcomes: Results showed that self-forgiveness has a huge role in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. For instance, it has been found that self-forgiveness leads to acceptance of HIV status, promote infected people to seek medical care, and eventually gain the confidence to disclose to friends and families. Work implications: In conclusion, self-forgiveness has micro, messo and macro implications as it promotes good health of people living with HIV and AIDS; enhance HIV status self-disclosure and adherence to HIV treatment.
... Coding procedures. The first author began coding procedures through an inductive, open coding process (Charmaz, 2006;Patton, 2015) in which each transcription from Event A was read entirely to gain an overall impression of the narratives and to remain close to data by coding based on the language and word choice of the participant (e.g., in-vivo; Charmaz, 2006). In-vivo codes were then organized and integrated into overall themes with subsequent sub-themes, which were compared against each other by their salient features via the constant comparative method (Creswell, 1998). ...
... Although there are some interventions that have been quite successful in promoting self-forgiveness of interpersonal transgressions (e.g., Hall & Fincham, 2008;Rangganadhan & Todorov, 2010), to date, there are no empirically validated interventions that we have found designed specifically for self-forgiveness of intrapersonal transgressions. This type of intervention is a much needed area of development and research due to the impact that a lack of self-forgiveness has on mental health (Hirsch et al., 2011;Kim, Thibodeau, & Jorgensen, 2011;Maltby et al., 2001;Peterson et al., 2017). Given the adverse consequences of the inability to forgive the self, our findings contribute to identifying the need for, and implementation of, self-forgiveness interventions among college students. ...
... This study represents an initial step toward understanding some of the barriers and gateways college students face in response to transgressions against the self. The variety of contextual situations and subsequent emotions that college students face suggest that there is not a uniform response to transgressions against the self (Peterson et al., 2017;Wohl et al., 2008). ...
The self-forgiveness process may be considered emotionally taxing among college students. The current study explored college students’ past intrapersonal transgressions (n = 88) through two outcomes (able or unable to forgive oneself). Using NVivo 11 Pro software, thematic analyses revealed the most common situational circumstances and internal emotional determinants that were
embedded in these contexts. Findings highlight the need to revise the existing self-forgiveness model to include experiences related to intrapersonal transgressions. Clinical implications include relevant intervention strategies to engage in the self-forgiveness process of an intrapersonal transgression among emerging adults. Directions for theory development are discussed.
... The forgiveness of self has almost exclusively been applied to interpersonal transgressions against other people (Peterson, Van Tongeren, Womack, Hook, Davis, & Griffin, 2017). From this perspective, otheroriented offenses that violate social values and moral codes of behaviour may be met with disapproval and social rejection (Barnes, Carvallo, Brown, & Osterman, 2010), thwarting one's basic need for relatedness (Ryan & Deci, 2000). ...
... However, self-forgiveness is also highly relevant to wrongdoings or shortcomings that are fundamentally intrapersonal (Peterson et al., 2017), including those in which social-moral standards may be less relevant (like failure) to reach an internal standard (e.g., desired improvement) or external standard (e.g., victory). Of course, there are many times in sport when interpersonal misdeeds are relevant (e.g., ill-treating a team member, cheating, or breaking training regimens or rules). ...
... The self-forgiveness literature has advanced considerably, yet its application has primarily been limited to interpersonal offenses and dysfunctional behaviour (e.g., hypersexual behaviour; Hook et al., 2015;Peterson et al., 2017). Basic research is needed to delineate the process of self-forgiveness in response to perceived failure. ...
Within the winner or loser dichotomy that exemplifies competitive sport, athletic success hinges on the ability to overcome and respond constructively to failure. This article introduces self-forgiveness as an adaptive, purposeful approach to coping with competitive sport performance failure in a way that stimulates personal growth and combats loss of motivation. In contrast to defensive responses that shield self-integrity, genuine self-forgiveness is reached through a process in which athletes (a) accept personal responsibility for their role in the unsuccessful performance outcome and (b) restore self-regard by affirming the self. Although athletes expose themselves to uncomfortable emotional experiences associated with failure, self-forgiveness is proposed as a process that enables athletes to objectively evaluate unsuccessful performances, identify areas warranting improvement, and develop adaptive psychological recovery responses to failure.
... El estudio del perdón desde la Justicia Restaurativa se ha centrado mayoritariamente en la perspectiva del perdón a otros (Peterson et al., 2017). Por su parte, la Justicia Terapéutica (TJ), además de plantear que los procesos restaurativos empoderan a los participantes en la reparación del daño causado por el comportamiento delictivo (Daly y Immarigeon 1998; Fariña y Oyhamburu, 2021), considera la aplicación de la Ley como una oportunidad para promover el bienestar de la víctima y del victimario, así como para prevenir y disminuir la reincidencia (Fariña, López y Redondo, 2016). ...
The promotion of restorative processes in the field of justice has fostered social and scientific interest in the study of forgiveness, mainly from the victim's perspective. Research shows the impact of the process of forgiveness on psychological well-being; however, it is necessary to know more about the effects it can have, particularly for people who commit crimes, both in terms of self-forgiveness and in terms of the relational process between victim and offender. For this purpose, a systematic review of the scientific literature on the benefits of forgiveness for people who commit crimes was carried out in this paper. A total of 21 articles extracted from the Psycinfo, Dialnet and Web of Science databases were analyzed. The results of the studies reviewed show that, after the crime, feelings of guilt, remorse, shame, anger and/or rumination are generated, which are attenuated by the acceptance of responsibility for their actions, with the reaffirmation of the values violated and the commitment of the people who break the law to their future conduct. As a consequence of this process, self-esteem and empathy, the sense of belonging to the community, gratitude towards the forgiver and a reduction in recidivism are increased. This work provides a vision in of Restorative and Therapeutic Jurisprudence as new ways of serving justice, paving the way for future research that promotes the well-being of people through restorative and therapeutic intervention tools. The limitations of the work are presented, as well as future lines of research that can contribute to systematize the study of forgiveness as a psychological variable.
... Forgiveness can improve well-being by alleviating the effects of stress and negative emotions, resulting in a more harmonious response for the individual (Worthington et al., 2005). A large body of evidence shows that forgiveness is associated with many positive outcomes, including improved mental health (Peterson et al., 2017;Toussaint et al., 2017), higher levels of selfesteem and self-confidence (Pandey et al., 2020;Woodyatt & Wenzel, 2013), greater personal growth and life satisfaction (Levi-Belz & Gilo, 2020; Woodyatt et al., 2017) and greater emotional stability and flexibility (Bem et al., 2021). In addition, there were researchers also showed that higher levels of self-forgiveness are associated with higher levels of compassion, personal growth, and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic (Beltrán Morillas & Expósito, 2021). ...
Unlabelled:
Although previous studies have found relationships between anger, forgiveness, and well-being, none have examined whether forgiveness mediates the relationship between trait anger and subjective well-being. To address this gap, this study constructed and tested a relevant moderated mediating model. We also considered the moderating effects of the COVID-19 lockdown situation, which has indirectly deteriorated well-being. The participants included 1,274 individuals who were recruited in April 2022. In sum, the results showed negative relationships between the trait anger and forgiveness and well-being, with a positive association between forgiveness and well-being. Moreover, forgiveness mediated the association between trait anger and subjective well-being, whereas the lockdown situation regulated the effects of trait anger on forgiveness and subjective well-being; specifically, forgiveness and well-being were more susceptible to trait anger among individuals under the lockdown situation. These findings suggest that forgiveness mediates the relationship between trait anger and well-being, while trait anger negatively predicts forgiveness and subjective well-being. Furthermore, the lockdown situation increases the negative predictive effects of anger on forgiveness and subjective well-being.
Supplementary information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04500-9.
... Emocionālās reakcijas parasti motivē cilvēkus meklēt atriebību, izvairīties vai reaģēt ar agresiju vai pat vardarbību (Lamb, 2002). Pētījumi rāda, ka, piedodot sev, tiek samazināta vainas apziņa un kauns (McGaffin et al., 2013), samazinās sevis savainošanas un pašnāvības risks (Nagra, Lin & Upthegrove, 2016;Peterson et al., 2016). ...
The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between aspects of forgiveness, grief symptoms and bereavement in women after perinatal loss. In addition, to explore to what extent forgiveness and bereavement aspects predict grief symptoms. Participating in the study were 440 women, aged between 20 to 45 years, (M = 33,2). They completed the Heartland Forgiveness scale (Thompson & Snyder, 2003), adapted by Vendija Balode (Balode, 2017) and the Traumatic Grief Inventory (Self-Report Version, Boelen, & Smid, 2017), which was adapted as a part of this study. The results of research showed that there were negative relationships between forgiveness and grief symptoms. Bereavement aspects, such as the severity of the perceived bereavement, experienced bonding with the lost baby, and the time since the loss were positive predictors of grief symptom, whereas forgiveness in general, having received psychological assistance and overcoming the perceived loss, were negative predictors of the symptoms of grief.
... As the forgiveness literature confirms, forgiveness has many positive contributions to the individual and society, both psychologically and physiologically (Griffin et al., 2015;Peterson et al., 2017;Lawler et al., 2005;Bono, 2008). Unforgiveness threatens the health of the individual by triggering many unhealthy emotions such as grudge, hostility, anger, resentment (McCullough, 2001;Lawler et al., 2005). ...
Unlike traditional psychotherapy approaches focused on disease and disorder, positive psychology has opened a new window to the science of psychology by emphasizing the importance of embracing all aspects of individuals. Positive psychology approach not only underlines that the positive, strong aspects of individuals and the good aspects of life deserve at least as much attention as negative facts, but also states that the negative effects of existing problems can be eliminated by identifying and supporting the positive and strong aspects of the individual. Furthermore, positive psychology highlights the necessity of examining these aspects with scientific methods. Spirituality and religious belief occupy a central position in the lives of many individuals and affect the lives of individuals in various ways. Ignoring the spiritual/religious aspect of individuals in the psychotherapy process will lead to an incomplete evaluation. This is contrary to the basic point of view of positive psychology. Positive psychology is open to adressing spirituality in the psychotherapy process. In addition, spirituality is a notion that is examined as part of character strength and virtues in the positive psychology perspective. In this study, which aims to examine the place of spirituality in positive psychology, the relationship between positive psychology and spirituality is examined within the framework of the relevant literature, the basic concepts of positive psychology are discussed within the framework of spirituality. Additionally, the characteristics of the positive psychotherapy process are examined, the studies in which spiritual/religious practices are included in the positive psychotherapy process and these studies effects were given. It is hoped that this study will complete the missing points in the literature and offer a new perspective to practitioners and researchers.
... Therefore, self-forgiveness may bring positive effects, but it can also serve as a pretext to harm others or oneself again (Peterson, 2017). ...
The aim of the presented study was to Polish version of The State Self-Forgiveness Scale (Wohl i in., 2008) – Skala Epizodycznego Przebaczenia Sobie. The scale is used to assess self-forgiveness after wrongdoing towards self and other persons. The scale consists of 17 items and two subscales describing feelings and actions as well as beliefs towards oneself, which are to lead to self-forgiveness. Four hundred forty four (Mage =27.8, SD=9.9) participated in the study. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory analysis were performed to determine the psychometric properties (RMSEA 0,048, GFI 0,924, PCLOSE 0,556). In order to determine the internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach’s alpha (0,80-0,86). The internal validity was assessed by Heartland Forgiveness Scale. The obtained results showed that the Polish version of The State Self-forgiveness Scale as tool with good psychometric properties and to recommend it for the assessment of self-forgiveness both in research.
... Furthermore, when coming face to face with feelings of remorse or self-condemnation, self-forgiveness does not represent an instant change of mindset; instead, it seems that the healing process takes time and must incorporate at least some degree of pain and negative feelings in order for the actor to take responsibility, which is a key point if one is to benefit from and increase the process of genuine selfforgiveness. 41 That is, "well-being is not the absence of distress", 42 and there is no quick fix when it comes to convalescing. Accordingly, the construct of self-forgiveness found in the study exhibited a factor called "embodied awareness," which contained two un-hedonic elements: "tolerance" and "confrontation". ...
Purpose:
Self-forgiveness requires a cognitive reframing of one's views of the self. It may be a positive situational strength, and it has been shown that higher levels of self-forgiveness are related to well-being and a specific personality type. However, the concept, per se, and the inner healing process of self-forgiveness are still unclear because of a lack of cultural awareness in this research field. The current research aimed to conduct a conceptual analysis in a collectivist context and create an optional measurement scale for assessing self-forgiveness in a target population.
Methods and results:
In Study 1, using multidimensional scaling (MDS), the findings suggested that the conceptual structure of self-forgiveness among Taiwanese participants (N = 232) can be categorized into three dimensions: embodied awareness, positive change, and wisdom growth. The scale was created by using item analysis, factor analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and correlation analyses in Study 2 (N = 231) and Study 3 (N = 805), the scale was found to have adequate reliability and validity, and the scores correlated with measures of self-control and resilience.
Conclusion:
The constructs of self-forgiveness among a sample in Taiwan have three basic psychological meanings. The measure designed here is supported by adequate psychometric evidence. Further research will be necessary to increase the understanding of self-forgiveness cross-culturally, provide additional empirical validation and methodological refinement within different target groups, and investigate intra-individual positive strength change for the improvement and practical application of the current measurement tool.
... Our findings agree with one of the key notions of PTG: Other than the event itself, it is the individual's reactions or interpretations to the event that may cause PTG (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). This highlights the relevance of self-forgiveness and its benefits on mental health (Peterson et al., 2017), and underlines it as one of the main therapeutic objectives in trauma treatment. ...
Trauma may lead to different psychological changes, both detrimental or beneficial. This study aimed to a better understanding of these consequences by exploring the relations between traumatic experiences and: Posttraumatic growth (PTG), posttraumatic cognitions (PTC), and personality. Mexican university students (n ¼ 161) answered the Global Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress, the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Millon Multiaxial Inventory. Participants showed a high prevalence of traumatic exposure, standard personality scores, and PTC and PTG presence. Self-blame cognitions were higher in persons with intentional trauma, and guilt was positively associated with PTG. Histrionic personality was associated positively with PTG and negatively with PTC. Mental health implications are discussed.
... 621) work in this field has since mushroomed showing that self-forgiveness is related to better mental and physical health (e.g. Davis et al., 2015;Peterson et al., 2017;Toussaint, Webb, & Hirsch, 2017) as well as CONTACT Frank D. Fincham ffincham@fsu.edu *Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA relationship health (e.g. ...
Although the existence of an association between religion and self-forgiveness is well documented, the direction of effects and possible causal nature of the relationship is unknown. Two studies were therefore conducted using longitudinal and experimental designs, respectively. Study 1 (n = 393) examined the temporal relation between self-forgiveness and two indices of religion, religious activity and forgiveness by God. For both indices of religion, the effect from earlier religion to later self-forgiveness was significant but the reverse was not the case. In Study 2 participants (n = 91) were randomly primed with images that depicted an angry God, a benevolent God, or non-religious (abstract art) images before completing a measure of self-forgiveness. Respondents in the angry God condition were least self-forgiving and differed significantly from those in the non-religious (abstract art) condition who were most self-forgiving. These findings point to the need for investigation of mechanisms that might account for a potential causal relation between religion and self-forgiveness.
... Recently, three randomized, controlled trials (Cornish & Wade, 2015;Griffin et al., 2015;Toussaint et al., 2014) have shown that self-forgiveness can be effectively taught to individuals experiencing self-condemnation issues. Likewise, a recent experiment has shown that a reflective exercise consisting of eight self-forgiveness questions helped to increase self-forgiveness in college students who felt responsible for a prior wrongdoing (Peterson et al., 2016). As these were randomized trials and an experiment, it cannot be shown that self-condemnation actually caused the increases in self-forgiveness because participants were randomly assigned to groups. ...
In this chapter, we present a stress-and-coping model of self-forgiveness and health. Three propositions are built from the seminal transactional model of stress and coping and the stress-and-coping model of forgiveness. The three propositions of the stress-and-coping model of self-forgiveness include: (1) self-condemnation is stressful; (2) self-forgiveness can be used to cope with the stressful effects of self-condemnation; and (3) self-forgiveness is related to health. Studies bearing on these propositions are briefly reviewed. Research is rapidly growing and supportive of the proposition that self-forgiveness is related to health, but studies examining the stressfulness of unforgiveness and the efficacy of self-forgiveness as a coping mechanism for self-condemnation are needed. There are countless applications of self-forgiveness in the promotion of health and wellness, and the relevance of self-forgiveness to students, interpersonal relationships, and workers is highlighted.
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that affects not only physical health, but also mental well-being. Two variables, which have been observed significantly in people facing difficult and complex situations that are also related to greater personal growth and satisfaction with life, are self-forgiveness and compassion for others. Thus, through a correlational study, we set out to examine how self-forgiveness and compassion are associated with personal growth and life satisfaction in this complicated situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a sample of Spanish participants (N = 329, range from 18 to 83 years), the main results showed that self-forgiveness and compassion were positively related to personal growth and life satisfaction and that self-forgiveness was associated with increased personal growth and life satisfaction through compassion. Ultimately, these findings and their possible implications for therapeutic practice are discussed.
OBJECTIVES: While there has been a recent surge in research on forgiveness and health, much less is known about the relationship between divine forgiveness and health.
METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the 2001-2004 Religion, Aging, and Health Survey from the United States, the current study assesses how changes in beliefs in God-mediated control, a perceived collaborative relationship with a divine power, affects the association between divine forgiveness and physical health among Christian older adults.
RESULTS: Older adults with consistently high beliefs in God-mediated control over the study period received stronger health benefits of divine forgiveness. Forgiveness by God also had a stronger relationship with health compared to forgiveness of self and others.
DISCUSSION: The findings underscore the importance of subjective beliefs about God. Future research directions are proposed to advance the study of religion and health in later life by conceiving of a more salient role for divine forgiveness.
Although school is an ideal location for teaching forgiveness because it mediates between the family and society, forgiveness education has been relatively neglected in schools. Most research and pedagogical models on forgiveness education to date are based on the psychological perspective which is individualistic in nature. Although empirical support for effectiveness of these models has been found, the individualistic foundation of these models ignores the collective aspect of forgiveness and forgiveness education. Hegel’s philosophy provides insights that can complement the individualistic perspective. Hegelian philosophy suggests that forgiveness enables mutual recognition to occur and the collective human consciousness to progress to higher stages of development in a dialectical manner. This paper proposes the major elements for forgiveness education from an Hegelian perspective that complement existing theories, research and practice forgiveness education: the importance of narrowing the reality-virtue gap, the renunciation of self, mutual recognition, reconciliation, awareness of one's duty to others, and finally the use of language.
This article presents the findings of research conducted on ‘forgiveness’ as a spiritual construct, religious survival strategy and meaning-giving tool during incarceration. The research was conducted with 30 men serving long-term sentences in Zonderwater, a correctional centre outside Pretoria, South Africa. A review of literature showed that forgiveness has mainly been seen as something the perpetrator owed the victim and that asking for and granting forgiveness were religious imperatives. However, this study shows that offenders, in the troubled space of incarceration, survived by putting themselves in control of forgiveness. They found peace of mind by granting forgiveness to those who caused them to be incarcerated, whilst at the same time taking responsibility for their own actions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. Applying an interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology, the collected data were analysed and the following themes were identified: (1) forgiving those who transgressed against me; (2) the role of politics in forgiveness; (3) God’s role in forgiveness; and (4) the effects of forgiveness on the self.
Contribution: This article contributes to an understanding of the construction of forgiveness as experienced by offenders, independent from the traditional victim-offender relations. Living in a troubled, unforgiving space, these men are expected to practice forgiveness by set standards. From their shared narratives, it is illustrated that their spiritual navigation with this phenomenon is not a chronological, time dependent process, but a multi-dimensional, personal journey to self-discovery.
Background & Aim: Identifying the factors related to the psychological well-being of medical sciences students is very important. It seems that forgiveness as a process, helping individuals to reduce resentment, improve interpersonal relationships, and decrease negative emotions can play an vital role in their well-being. The present study aimed to predict the psychological well-being of medical sciences students based on forgiveness components.
Material & Method: This was a descriptive, correlational study. In this study, 250 medical and nursing students from Kashan University of Medical Science, were selected via a multistage stratified sampling in 2016- 2017, and completed the Ehteshamzadeh Interpersonal Forgiveness Scale and the Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean & standard deviation) and inferential statistics including Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t test and multiple stepwise regression analysis using the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The mean scores for interpersonal forgiveness and psychological well-being were 66.73 ± 9.14, and 76.32 ± 10.70, respectively. The total mean scores for interpersonal forgiveness (t=2.59, P=0.01) and psychological well-being (t=3.31, P
Self-forgiveness is a relatively new construct in the positive psychology literature. Many researchers posit that self-forgiveness promotes well-being, psychologically and relationally, but others worry it might serve as a moral disengagement strategy that can harm individuals and relationships. In the present chapter, we conducted a qualitative review of 65 published empirical studies exploring associations of self-forgiveness with mental health and relational well-being. In order to address discrepancies in the literature, the review highlights more sophisticated studies and explores the differences that emerge when self-forgiveness is assessed as a state as opposed to a trait. In particular, measurement concerns are identified, specifically noting the lack of studies in the field that assess well-being while considering the two-part definition of self-forgiveness. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
In this introductory chapter, we provide an overview of the history and context of self-forgiveness research within the field of Psychology. We discuss definitions of self-forgiveness, with emphasis on theoretical and empirical quandaries that have characterized the field. We examine contexts in which self-forgiveness has been examined as a natural process, and how the process depends on factors including age, gender, and religious/cultural identity. We summarize the promise of emerging interventions designed to promote self-forgiveness. Overall, this chapter will deepen and broaden the scope of your understanding prior to engaging with the innovative, challenging, and rigorous scholars whose contributions to this handbook follow in the remaining chapters.
Self-forgiveness is typically conceptualized as an abandonment of self-condemnation in the face of acknowledged, self-directed harm-doing that helps the harm-doer make a positive change in their life. In this chapter, we qualify the link between self-forgiveness and well-being by outlining theory and research that positions self-forgiveness for an ongoing, harmful behavior as a hindrance to positive behavioral change. We argue that self-forgiveness in this context de-motivates behavioral change by alleviating negative emotions (e.g., guilt) that are needed to initiate change. The net effect is a maintenance of the behavioral status quo. We conclude by outlining a conceptual model of self-forgiveness for ongoing harm-doing that situates this dark side of self-forgiveness within the broader self-forgiveness literature. In doing so, we point to potentially fruitful avenues for future research.
The purpose of this study is to examine the interface between involvement in religion and self-forgiveness. The data come from a recent nationwide survey of adults age 18 and older (N = 1774). A conceptual model was developed that contains the following hypotheses: (1) Evangelicals will attend worship services more frequently than members of other faith traditions; (2) people who go to church services more often will be more likely to get spiritual support from fellow church members; (3) individuals who receive more spiritual support from religious others will be more likely to believe that they have been forgiven by God; (4) people who believe that they have been forgiven by God will have a greater sense of self-worth; and (5) individuals who have a stronger sense of self-worth will be more likely to forgive themselves for the things they have done wrong. The data provide support for each hypothesis.
Self-forgiveness has been conceptualized as a coping strategy that may improve health and well-being. To better understand the functions of self-forgiveness, this meta-analysis examines the correlates of self-forgiveness associated with physical and mental health. For physical health, across 18 samples and 5,653 participants, the correlation was .32. For psychological well-being, across 65 samples and 17,939 participants, the correlation was .45. To augment this primary focus on physical and mental health correlates, we estimated the relationships between self-forgiveness and specific mental health constructs and relationship outcomes. Implications for future basic and applied research on self-forgiveness are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
(c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).
Although initial research on treatment for hypersexual behavior has had promising results, there has been little work that explicates the theoretical rationale for various treatment strategies. Self-forgiveness may be one strategy to help individuals with hypersexual behavior work through maladaptive shame and guilt. The present study explored the role of self-forgiveness in hypersexual behavior. Participants (N = 187) reported a time in which they had violated their sexual values and completed measures of self-forgiveness, shame/guilt, and hypersexual behavior. Self-forgiveness was negatively related to hypersexual behavior. Self-forgiveness was also negatively related to shame/guilt. The association between self-forgiveness and hypersexual behavior was mediated by shame/guilt.
One problem in forgiveness research is the reliance on one method (i.e. having people recall an offense and complete self-report measures). Thus, we present two strategies for studying forgiveness-related behavior. First, we adapted the Cyberball paradigm, which is a game of toss where two computer players (ostensibly virtual players) exclude the participant from play. We adapted Cyberball to include a second round that gave participants the opportunity to retaliate or forgive the player who excluded them. Self-reported forgiveness predicted the first toss and total number of tosses to the offender in the subsequent round. Second, we had participants describe an offense (as is typical with the recall method), but then also complete an activity in which they listed as many positive qualities as they could about the offender. Self-reported forgiveness predicted the number of positive qualities listed. We discuss the contribution of these studies to the multimodal study of forgiveness.
Two studies examined whether conciliatory behavior aids self-forgiveness and whether it does so in part by making it seem more morally appropriate. Participants in Study 1 (n = 269) completed an offense-recall procedure; participants in Study 2 (n = 208) imagined a social transgression under conciliatory behavior (yes, no) and receipt of forgiveness (no, ambiguous, yes) conditions. Conciliatory behavior predicted (Study 1) and caused (Study 2) elevated self-forgiveness and increased perceptions of the moral appropriateness of self-forgiveness. Perceived morality consistently mediated the effect of conciliatory behavior on self-forgiveness. Received forgiveness and guilt were considered as additional mechanisms, but received mixed support. Results suggest that conciliatory behavior may influence self-forgiveness in part by
satisfying moral prerequisites for self-forgiveness.
This study extended forgiveness research by examining the relationships between narcissism, guilt, selfesteem,
Agreeableness, and forgiveness of others, self, and situations (N = 176). Narcissistic entitlement was negatively related, and Agreeableness positively related, to forgiveness of others. Narcissism and the other
personality variables were related to self-forgiveness and forgiveness of situations. After controlling for selfesteem and shame, entitlement retained a unique relationship with forgiveness of others, and guilt retained a unique relationship with self-forgiveness. Agreeableness mediated the relationship between entitlement and
forgiveness of others, and guilt and self-esteem mediated the relationship between narcissism and self-forgiveness. Although the distinction between forgiveness of self and situations requires clarification, it appears that narcissism and proneness to guilt have the potential to distinguish who forgives others and the self.
Background:
People with drug and/or alcohol problems often experience feelings of shame and guilt, which have been associated with poorer recovery. Self-forgiveness has the potential to reduce these negative experiences.
Methods:
The current study tested theorized mediators (acceptance, conciliatory behavior, empathy) of the relationships between shame and guilt with self-forgiveness. A cross-sectional sample of 133 individuals (74.4% male) receiving residential treatment for substance abuse completed self-report measures of shame, guilt, self-forgiveness, and the mediators.
Results:
Consistent with previous research, guilt had a positive association with self-forgiveness, whereas shame was negatively associated with self-forgiveness. Acceptance mediated the guilt and self-forgiveness relationship and had an indirect effect on the shame and self-forgiveness relationship.
Conclusions:
These findings emphasize the importance of targeting acceptance when trying to reduce the effects of shame and guilt on self-forgiveness.
Although research on interpersonal forgiveness is burgeoning, there is little con- ceptual or empirical scholarship on self-forgiveness. To stimulate research on this topic, a conceptual analysis of self-forgiveness is offered in which self-forgiveness is defined and distinguished from interpersonal forgiveness and pseudo self-for- giveness. The conditions under which self-forgiveness is appropriate also are iden- tified. A theoretical model describing the processes involved in self-forgiveness following the perpetration of an interpersonal transgression is outlined and the pro- posed emotional, social-cognitive, and offense-related determinants of self-for- giveness are described. The limitations of the model and its implications for future research are explored.
At the present time, little is known about the factors involved in self-forgiveness. In order to advance theoretical and empirical knowledge in this area, several correlates of self-forgiveness for interpersonal and intrapersonal transgressions were examined. Across two studies, participants wrote about a previous interpersonal or intrapersonal transgression (Study 1; N = 198) or imagined themselves in a particular interpersonal or intrapersonal transgression situation (Study 2; N = 240) and then responded to items related to the transgression. Analyses revealed that emotions focused on the event (i.e., shame, guilt, and rumination) were critical factors in the self-forgiveness process. In addition, other categories of variables (perceived forgiveness/conciliatory behaviors, offense-related, personality/individual difference, and relationship) were linked to self-forgiveness. The implications for future self-forgiveness research are discussed.
Although considerable empirical attention has recently focused on forgiveness, less work has been done on examining self-forgiveness. A major stumbling block for self-forgiveness research has been the lack of a measure to assess self-forgiveness for specific transgressions. This article reports the development of the State Self-Forgiveness Scales and the test of a model of self-forgiveness' relation to psychological well-being in the context of the unwanted end of a romantic relationship. In Study 1, factor analysis revealed a 2-factor structure to the self-forgiveness data. Study 2 found that self-blame predicted depressive affect to the extent that participants forgave the self. The implications of state self-forgiveness for both basic research and therapy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This study investigated whether low levels of self-forgiveness were associated with eating disorder symptomatology. Participating women (N = 51) had diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or no eating disorder diagnosis. They completed 3 measures of self-forgiveness. Women with eating disorders had lower levels of self-forgiveness compared with control participants. Results suggest that incorporating self-forgiveness interventions into current eating disorder treatments should be evaluated in future research as they might enhance clinical outcomes.
In the current article, the authors explore the efficacy of a 4-hour self-forgiveness intervention. Participants (n = 79) undergoing a routine alcohol treatment protocol were randomly assigned to an intervention or treatment as usual condition. Those in the intervention condition completed the self-forgiveness intervention. All participants completed measures of self-forgiveness, drinking refusal self-efficacy, and guilt and shame over an alcohol-related transgression. Participants in the intervention condition reported more positive gains on measures of self-forgiveness and drinking refusal efficacy, as well as guilt and shame over alcohol-related offenses. Implications of the self-forgiveness intervention for individuals who misuse alcohol are discussed.
Self-forgiveness is generally understood to be a mechanism that restores and improves the self. In the current study, we examine the possible deleterious consequences of forgiving the self among gamblers-specifically in regard to gamblers' readiness to change their problematic behavior. At a large Canadian university, 110 young adult gamblers' level of gambling pathology was assessed, along with their readiness to change and self-forgiveness for their gambling. Participants were 33 females and 75 males (2 unspecified) with a mean age of 20.33. Results revealed that level of pathology (at risk vs. problem gamblers) significantly predicted increased readiness to change. Self-forgiveness mediated this relationship, such that level of gambling pathology increased readiness to change to the extent that participants were relatively unforgiving of their gambling. Implications for seeking professional assistance as well as treatment and recovery are discussed.
Forgiveness has received widespread attention among psychologists from social, personality, clinical, developmental, and organizational perspectives alike. Despite great progress, the forgiveness literature has witnessed few attempts at empirical integration. Toward this end, we meta-analyze results from 175 studies and 26,006 participants to examine the correlates of interpersonal forgiveness (i.e., forgiveness of a single offender by a single victim). A tripartite forgiveness typology is proposed, encompassing victims' (a) cognitions, (b) affect, and (c) constraints following offense, with each consisting of situational and dispositional components. We tested hypotheses with respect to 22 distinct constructs, as correlates of forgiveness, that have been measured across different fields within psychology. We also evaluated key sample and study characteristics, including gender, age, time, and methodology as main effects and moderators. Results highlight the multifaceted nature of forgiveness. Variables with particularly notable effects include intent (r = -.49), state empathy (r = .51), apology (r = .42), and state anger (r = -.41). Consistent with previous theory, situational constructs are shown to account for greater variance in forgiveness than victim dispositions, although within-category differences are considerable. Sample and study characteristics yielded negligible effects on forgiveness, despite previous theorizing to the contrary: The effect of gender was nonsignificant (r = .01), and the effect of age was negligible (r = .06). Preliminary evidence suggests that methodology may exhibit some moderating effects. Scenario methodologies led to enhanced effects for cognitions; recall methodologies led to enhanced effects for affect.
Synopsis
Psychometric and clinical correlates of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) are described for a large sample of female anorexia nervosa ( N = 160) and female comparison ( N = 140) subjects. An abbreviated 26-item version of the EAT (EAT-26) is proposed, based on a factor analysis of the original scale (EAT-40). The EAT-26 is highly correlated with the EAT-40 ( r = 0·98) and three factors form subscales which are meaningfully related to bulimia, weight, body-image variables and psychological symptoms. Whereas there are no differces between bulimic and restricter anorexia nervosa patients on the total EAT-26 and EAT-40 scores, these groups do indicate significant differences on EAT-26 fractors. Norms for the anorexia nervosa and female comparison subjects are presented for the EAT-26, EAT-40 and the EAT-26 factors. It is concluded that the EAT-26 is a reliable, valid and economical instrument which may be useful as an objective measure of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa.
Self-forgiveness literature has grown in depth and breadth since its inception in 1974. In 2005, Hall and Fincham proposed a conceptual process model of self-forgiveness. In approximately 10 years, there have been considerable advancements in conceptual understanding and empirical findings but less refinement of a theoretical framework. This article outlines a Conceptual-Theoretical-Empirical (C-T-E) framework to explain the origins, processes, and ethical limitations of self-forgiveness; to refine the definition of self-forgiveness; and to improve upon Hall and Fincham's (2005) model. This C-T-E framework provides a social-cognitive theoretical structure to direct future research and therapeutic practice.
Measures of self-forgiveness that merely focus on the outcome of positive self-regard risk neglecting the process through which offenders restore it. They may thus tap pseudo self-forgiveness where offenders downplay their responsibility for the wrongdoing. For genuine self-forgiveness, the process should instead involve an attenuation of the negative link between responsibility acceptance and positive self-regard. In this paper, we examine how acts of value reaffirmation facilitate genuine self-forgiveness. In Study 1, a role-play experiment (N = 90), participants either confessed their wrongdoing to the victim or not. Although responsibility acceptance was strongly negatively related to reported self-forgiveness (i.e., self-regard), this relationship was tempered when participants confessed their wrongdoing to the victim and, through this, reaffirmed the violated values. In Study 2, a longitudinal study referring to self-reported transgressions (N = 74), responsibility acceptance was negatively related to self-forgiveness measures as well as self-esteem when offenders showed little value reaffirmation, but not when they more strongly reaffirmed the violated values. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
This article presents the results of a phenomenological study of the experience of self-forgiveness. On the basis of in-depth interviews with seven subjects, self-forgiveness is described not as an achievement but rather as a gift where one moves from estrangement and "brokenness" to a sense of at-homeness.
Recent self-forgiveness research raises thorny issues: Are people who claim to forgive themselves merely excusing their offenses? Might it be adaptive for people to feel distress after they hurt others? This study asked 138 undergraduates to reflect on times when they offended others. Feelings of self-condemnation were associated with maladjustment, as shown in prior studies. However, participants reported more prosocial responses (repentance and a sense of being humbled) if they accepted responsibility, experienced remorse, and found that reducing negative feelings required effort. Egotism was associated with reluctance to accept responsibility, whereas a more shame-prone, neurotic pattern was associated with self-condemnation. To avoid confounding self-forgiveness with excusing, future studies should include responsibility ratings and should also distinguish between remorse and self-condemnation.
This study examined the temporal course of self-forgiveness using 8 waves of data collected from 148 participants. Self-forgiveness increased linearly over time, and fluctuations in 6 time-varying covariates were related to changes in self-forgive- ness beyond those accounted for by the self-forgiveness trajectory. Decreases in guilt, perceived transgression severity, and conciliatory behavior toward a higher power were associated with increases in self-forgiveness. Increases in perceived forgiveness from the victim and a higher power and conciliatory behavior toward the victim were also related to increases in self-forgiveness. These findings suggest that self-forgiveness is a dynamic process associated with multiple factors and lend preliminary support to J.H. Hall and F.D. Fincham's (2005) theoretical model of self-forgiveness.
Introduces and discusses the concept of the forgiveness triad (i.e., forgiving others, receiving forgiveness from others, and self-forgiveness). Each aspect is defined, presented as philosophically rational and therefore appropriate within counseling, and described within a psychological framework of how people go about that aspect of forgiveness. The interactions of the triad are described, showing how the counseling process that employs forgiveness strategies may become complicated. A counselor's awareness of all 3 aspects of forgiveness may lead to greater clarity in the therapeutic encounter. The processes of forgiving another, receiving forgiveness from another, and self-forgiveness are appended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Objectives: We examined whether symptoms of pathologic drinking are positively related to the subjective experience of shame and negatively related to self-forgiveness. We also tested a theory-based prediction that the association of alcohol misuse to self-forgiveness would be especially pronounced among individuals scoring high on shame.
Methods: Five hundred sixty-seven college students provided self-report data pertaining to the variables of interest.
Results: Shame moderated the association between alcohol and self-forgiveness. Specifically, high levels of self-forgiveness were related to low levels of alcohol misuse, but only within the high-shame subgroup.
Conclusions: These findings tentatively suggest the ability to forgive oneself may reduce the likelihood of alcohol and other drug abuse among people who experience high levels of shame. Pending replication, secondary prevention intervention research may wish to test whether inculcation of self-forgiveness is a health protective form of emotion-focused coping that produces therapeutic benefits in substance abusers who are not yet in treatment and who have a shame-based identity.
The field of positive psychology rests on the assumption that certain psychological traits and processes are inherently beneficial for well-being. We review evidence that challenges this assumption. First, we review data from 4 independent longitudinal studies of marriage revealing that 4 ostensibly positive processes-forgiveness, optimistic expectations, positive thoughts, and kindness-can either benefit or harm well-being depending on the context in which they operate. Although all 4 processes predicted better relationship well-being among spouses in healthy marriages, they predicted worse relationship well-being in more troubled marriages. Then, we review evidence from other research that reveals that whether ostensibly positive psychological traits and processes benefit or harm well-being depends on the context of various noninterpersonal domains as well. Finally, we conclude by arguing that any movement to promote well-being may be most successful to the extent that it (a) examines the conditions under which the same traits and processes may promote versus threaten well-being, (b) examines both healthy and unhealthy people, (c) examines well-being over substantial periods of time, and (d) avoids labeling psychological traits and processes as positive or negative.
Contrary to conventional wisdom and extant empirical work, forgiving the self may have deleterious consequences, especially if self-forgiveness is granted for chronic unhealthy behaviours such as smoking. Among 181 smokers, it was predicted and found that increased self-forgiveness for smoking was associated with a decreased likelihood of advancing through the stages of behavioural change towards action. Moreover, forgiving the self, mediated the relationship between movements from the pre-contemplation to contemplation stage of change and perceived smoking cons as well as experiential processes. An expanded understanding of the benefits and costs of self-forgiveness is discussed.
Doctoral dissertation
- M J Watson
Forgiving yourself: A step-by-step guide to making peace with your mistakes and getting on with your life. USA: Macmillan
- B Flanigan
The relationship between intrapersonal forgiveness and eating disorder symptomatology in anorexic and bulimic adult females (Doctoral dissertation)
- M J Watson
Personality, substance abuse, and lack of self-forgiveness with incarcerated males (Unpublished doctoral dissertation) Order No. AAI3241799. Available from PsycINFO. (622019835; 2007-99010-087) Retrieved from http
- D E Biron
Self-forgiveness: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Social and Personality Psychology Compass
- M J A Wohl
- K J Mclaughlin
Doctoral dissertation
- K A Terzino
Personality, substance abuse, and lack of self-forgiveness with incarcerated males (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Order No. AAI3241799. Available from PsycINFO
- D E Biron
Retrieved from ProQuest dissertations & Theses database
- M J Watson