Forgiveness

What are the characteristics of a successful forgiveness interventions?

Commit to forgiveness Empathy towards other Promote altruism Generalize to increase forgiveness

Unforgiveness as a stress reaction can be dealt with by emotion replacement, what emotions do the replacing?

Empathy - determining and respond to emotions of another Sympathy - generate positive emotions towards other Compassion Altruistic love - well-being of another as a goal

Transgressions-related interpersonal motivations inventory is what?

12 items Likert scale measuring revenge and avoidance.

Multidimensional forgiveness inventory is what?

16 scenarios involving transgressions by or against self.

What is the heartland forgiveness scale?

18 items likert scale based on three subscales about forgiveness of self, others and situations.

Enright forgiveness inventory

60 items Likert scale with three subscales - Affect, behavior and cognition.

Describe the uncovering phase of enrights model of interpersonal forgiveness.

Examine the psychological defenses and emotions associated with the event. Realization of permanent adverse changes in self.

Describe the deepening phase of Enright's model of interpersonal forgiveness.

Find meaning in the suffering and forgiveness. Realize that self needed others forgiveness. Awareness of the emotional change (decrease negative, emerging positive and emotional release).

When students imagined forgiving or unforgiving responses to real-life offenses what happened?

Forgivers have lower BP, HR, GSR. Less negative affect and higher levels of perceived control.

What is forgiveness?

It is a response - feelings, cognition, behaviors. It is a personal disposition - Tendency to forgive others across a wide range of situations. It is a characteristic of social units - Families higher in forgiveness.

What are some things that forgiveness is NOT?

It is not: Condoning - justifying the offense Excusing - belief the offender has a defensible reason Pardoning - escaping legal sanctions for offense Reconciliation - repairing relationship with offender Forgetting/Denying

How is unforgiveness a stress reaction?

It is stressful and creates similar physiological states. Physiological states where blood pressure, heart rate and electromyocardiograph are similar to anger. This anger reduces prefrontal activity, increases limbic activity. Trait forgiveness associated withr educed levels fo stress hormone cortisol. Blood chemistry similar during unforgiveness and stress. Creates similar moods and mental states.

What traits are associated with TRAIT forgiveness?

Less depressed, anxious, hostile. Less ruminative Less narcissistic Less angry, exploitative, inadequate, more empathic Related positively to agreeableness, negatively to neuroticism.

What is state forgiveness weakly related to?

Lower negative affect and fewer psychological symptoms.

Enright related forgiveness to Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning, what are the stages?

Punishment and Obedience - believe forgiveness only appropriate after revenge obtained. Instrumental relativist - Forgiveness only appropriate after restitution made. Interpersonal concordance - Forgiveness because society expects it Law and Order - Forgiveness when religion demands it Social contract - Forgiveness when it restores harmony in society Interpersonal concordance - Forgive unconditionally because it promotes a true sense of love.0

What is worthingtons REACH model?

Recall - transgression in supportive environment. Empathize - with the transgressor. imagine good times with offender, write their thoughts. Altruistic - gift of forgiveness. Remember own transgressions, recall own forgiveness Commit - to emotional forgiveness experienced. Group letter of forgiveness. Make forgiveness public. Hold - onto forgiveness despite doubts Recalling hurt not same as unforgiveness. Dont block emotions, emotion, anger management techniques.

What does the presence or absence of an apology do?

Reduce negative affect toward offender and increase empathy. Help separate offender from offence.

Describe the work phase of Enright's model of interpersonal forgiveness.

Reframing, empathy, awareness of emerging compassion. Acceptance and absorption of the pain.

What are the social factors associated with forgiveness?

Seriousness of offense - larger the offense the less likely to forgive. Intentionality of offender Presence vs. absence of apology

How did forgiveness affect Type A heart patients given CBT vs. cardiology treatment?

The CBT group had lower hostility. Greater reduction in heart problems. They indicated that forgiveness was the key to improvement.

Transgressions leads to justice gaps, what are the questions that someone asks themselves and how does this lead to their actions towards it?

They ask: Can this harm me? Can I cope? If it can harm them and they can't cope this leads to Rumination, unforgiveness and eventually justice, revenge avoidance. The coping strategy will be self-focused with competence, relationship and autonomy. This does not lead to any reduction in the justice gap. If it can harm them but they can cope this leads to problem-solving, emotion regulation, trying to find meaning. This will trigger justice, conciliation and altruism. This will lead to a reduction in the justice gap.

What are the four phases of Enright's model of interpersonal forgiveness?

Uncovering phase, Decision phase, Work phase, Deepening phase.

Describe the decision phase of Enright's model of interpersonal forgiveness.

Willingness to consider forgiveness as an option and commitment to forgive the offender.