Forgiveness

Now that you have completed this course, I would like you to write a 3-5 page paper describing the definition of forgiveness that you now hold. Is it the same as the definition you held at the beginning of this course (a copy of the definition you handed in during the second class will have been handed back to you so that you can compare)? Please make sure that you include within your definitions what you think forgiveness is as well as what it is not, and whether or not there are unforgiveable acts. Why has your definition changed, or why has it stayed the same? Please make sure that your paper is typed, follows APA guidelines, and references at least two scholarly journal articles. 05:30:00 Psyc 191 Lecture Outline June 08, 2012: Definitions Forgiveness Definitions  Definitions provide a framework for explaining the why and how ◦ Guide intervention protocols ◦ Guide research questions ◦ Affect participant responses What do Clinicians Think?  80% or more agreed, forgiveness is: ◦ An inner process; releasing of anger and fear ◦ Reduction in desire to retaliate ◦ Something that takes time/slow process ◦ Not equivalent to forgetting ◦ 50.5%: Forgiveness takes place between two individuals  58.5%: Forgiveness does not have to follow a long-lasting psychological, emotional, or moral hurt What do Clergy Think? (and why do we care?)  Clergy and Community samples: ◦ Similar definitions ◦ Preconditions are necessary ◦ Reconciliation is necessary ◦ Clergy: 65.9% - forgiveness is unconditional VS. Community: 69.2% - there are limits to forgiveness  Clergy: 67.9% - repentance is unnecessary VS. 69.2% - repentance is necessary Psychology's Perspective  Forgiveness belonged to philosophy and theology ◦ All major religions make reference to forgiveness ◦ Psychological research began mid 1980's Agreements Between Researchers  Forgiveness is only applicable to people  Forgiveness entails a release of negatives  Much agreement about what forgiveness is not... Forgiveness is Not...  Forgetting  Condoning  Excusing  Justifying  Pardoning  Reconciliation Does the General Population Agree?  Generally agree with the notion of letting go of negatives  But tend to include ideas of forgetting and reconciliation (Kanz, 2000) Is Letting Go of Negatives Enough?  If only let go of negatives, are you left with indifference? ◦ Occurs simply with the passage of time  Adoption of positives ◦ Can you feel love toward the person who hurt you? 3 Big Names  Enright  Worthington  McCullough Enright  “...a willingness to abandon one's right to resentment, negative judgment, and indifferent behaviour toward the one who unjustly hurt us, while fostering the undeserved qualities of compassion, generosity, and even love toward him or her”  Forgiveness = cognitive + behavioural + affective  Forgiveness is a process  Replace negatives with positives  Forgiveness = an altruistic gift to offender Worthington  “...a motivation to reduce avoidance and withdrawal from a person who has hurt us, as well as the anger, desire for revenge, and urge to retaliate against that person. Forgiveness also increases the pursuit of conciliation toward that person if moral norms can be re-established that are as good as, or even better than, they were before the hurt”  2 types of forgiveness  Decisional forgiveness: Change in behavioural intentions  Emotional forgiveness: Replacement of negative, unforgiving emotions with positive, other-oriented emotions McCullough  “...a prosocial change in the motivation to avoid or to seek revenge against a transgression”  Forgiveness = change in 3 motives:  Reduction in motive to avoid  Reduction in motive to seek revenge  Increase in motive to act benevolently toward offender