Formation and Development of Psychology of Forgiveness in the United States: An Overview

1993

Abstract

We provide an overview of studies of the phenomenon of forgiveness in modern American psychology. We discuss the works of the leaders of this area: Robert Enright, Everett Worthington, Michael McCullough and others. The features of the American approach in psychology of forgiveness are close connection with the psychology of religion, focus on practical problems of psychotherapy and counseling, interdisciplinary research. Over three decades, a theoretical model of forgiveness and forgiveness research methodology (Enright questionnaire) have been developed, as well as several models of therapy, educational programs for teaching forgiveness to children and teenagers, peace reconciliation programs in the areas of ethnic and religious conflicts. On different samples of subjects, the healing effects of forgiveness on the psychological state have been proven (decreased feelings of resentment, anger and revenge), and positive correlation of forgiveness and altruism, the ability to gratitude, relationship satisfaction, improved physical well-being (stabilized blood pressure, boosted immune system) were reported.

General Information

Keywords: forgiveness, modern American psychology, religion, therapy, anger, revenge, reconciliation

Journal rubric: Interdisciplinary Researches

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psyedu.2014060417

For citation: Pechin Y.V. Formation and Development of Psychology of Forgiveness in the United States: An Overview [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie psyedu.ru [Psychological Science and Education psyedu.ru], 2014. Vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 194–206. DOI: 10.17759/psyedu.2014060417. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Gassin E.A. Obryad proshcheniya: psikhologicheskoe, sotsial'noe i dukhovnoe stanovlenie cheloveka [Rite of forgiveness: psychological, social and spiritual development of human]. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2006, no. 3, pp. 4–13. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.).
  2. Gassin E. Pravoslavie i problema proshcheniya [Orthodoxy and the problem of forgiveness]. Moskovskii psikhoterapevticheskii zhurnal [Moscow psychotherapeutic magazine], 2003, no. 3, pp.166–186. (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.)
  3. Gassin E.A. Psikhologiya proshcheniya [Psychology forgiveness]. Voprosy psikhologii  [Psychological Issues], 1999, no. 4, pp. 93–104.
  4. Tomil'tseva D.A. Opyt proshcheniya: sotsial'no-filosofskii analiz. Avtoref. dis. kand. filosof. nauk. [Experience of forgiveness: the socio-philosophical analysis. Ph. D. (Philosophy) Thesis]. Ekaterinburg, 2010. 21 p.
  5. Chukova A.S. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie kharakteristiki proshcheniya kak fenomena mezhlichnostnogo obshcheniya. Avtoref. dis. kand. psikhol. nauk. [Socio-psychological characteristics of forgiveness as a phenomenon of interpersonal communication. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Saratov, 2011. 22 p.
  6. Allemand M., Amberg I., Zimirich D., Fincham F. The role of trait forgiveness and relationship satisfaction in episodic forgiveness. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2007. Vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 199–217.
  7. Al-Mabuk R. H., Enright R. D., Cardis P. A.  Forgiveness Education with Parentally Love-deprived Late Adolescents. Journal of Moral Education, 1995. no. 24 (4), pp. 427–444.
  8. Brown H. The Conditions of Forgiveness in Recent Philosophical Thought. In Maamri M.R. (eds.) A Journey through Forgiveness. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2010. pp. 11–17.
  9.  Enright R. D. Forgiveness Is a Choice: A Step-By-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. Washington, D.C.: APA Books, 2001. 299 p.
  10. Enright R.D. Psychological Science of Forgiveness: Implications for Psychotherapy and Education. Presented at the Conference, Neuroscience and Moral Action: Neurological Conditions of Affectivity, Decisions, and Virtue. Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce. Rome, Italy. February 28, 2011. Available at: http://www.couragerc.net/Courage_Home_Page/Santa%20Croce%20paper%20(PDF)%20February%2028,%202011.pdf  (Accessed 14.07.2013).
  11.  Enright R.D., Human Development Study Group. Counseling within the forgiveness triad: On forgiving, receiving forgiveness, and self-forgiveness. Counseling and Values, 1996, no. 40, pp. 107–126.
  12. Enright R., Knutson J., Holter A., Knutson C., Twomey P. Forgiveness Education with Children in Areas of Violence and Poverty. Forgiveness: A Sampling of Research Results. American Psychological Association, 2006. Washington, DC: Office of International Affairs. Reprinted, 2008. pp. 11–14.
  13.  Enright R.D., Santos M.J. D., Al-Mabuk R. The adolescent as forgiver. Journal of Adolescence, 1989, no. 12, pp. 95–110.
  14.  Fincham F.,  Hall J., Beach S. Forgiveness in Marriage: Current Status and Future Directions. Family Relations, 2006, no. 55, pp. 415–427.
  15.  Fitzgibbons R. P. The cognitive and emotive uses of forgiveness in the treatment of anger. Psychotherapy, 1986, no. 23(4), pp. 629–633.
  16.  Forgiveness: A Sampling of Research Results. American Psychological Association, 2006. Washington, DC: Office of International Affairs. Reprinted, 2008. 38 p.
  17.  Heider F. The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. New York: Wiley, 1958. 322 p.
  18.  McCullough M.E. Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008. 196 p.
  19.  McCullough M. The Forgiveness Instinct. Available at: http://www.greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/forgiveness_instinct/ (Accessed 10.07.2013)
  20.  Smedes L. B. Forgive and forget: healing the hurts we don’t deserve. New York: Pocket books, 1984. 45 p.
  21.  Verbin N. What is Forgiveness? A Journey through Forgiveness Edited by M.R. Maamri, N. Verbin, E.L. Worthington, Jr. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2010, pp. 3–10.
  22.  Wiesenthal S. The Sunflower: on the possibilities and limits of forgiveness. New York: Schocken, 1969. 169 p.
  23.  Worthington E.L., Davis D., Hook J., Van Tongeren D., Gartner A., Jennings D., Greer C., Greer T. Forgiveness and Religion: Update and Current Status. In Maamri M.R. (eds.) A Journey through Forgiveness. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2010, pp.49–57.

Information About the Authors

Yuri V. Pechin, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor of the Department of Personnel Policy and Personnel Management of the Faculty of State and Municipal Management, FGBOU VPO «Novosibirsk State Agrarian University», Russia, e-mail: pechin65@mail.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 3151
Previous month: 28
Current month: 14

Downloads

Total: 1993
Previous month: 5
Current month: 6