Editing Forgiveness (section)

==The nature of forgiveness==
[[File:Determinants of Forgiveness Graphic.JPG|thumb|Factors determining the likelihood of forgiveness in an intimate relationship]]
{{As of|2006}}, there is no consensus for a psychological definition of forgiveness in the research literature. However, there is agreement that forgiveness is a process, and several models describing the process of forgiveness have been published, including one from a radical behavioral perspective.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Cordova|first1=J.|last2=Cautilli|first2=J.|last3=Simon|first3=C.|last4=Axelrod-Sabtig|first4=R|year=2006|title=Behavior Analysis of Forgiveness in Couples Therapy|journal=IJBCT|volume=2|number=2|page=192}}</ref>

Dr. Robert Enright from the University of Wisconsin–Madison founded the International Forgiveness Institute and initiated forgiveness studies. He developed a 20-Step Process Model of Forgiveness.<ref>{{cite book|first=Robert|last=Enright|title=Forgiveness Is a Choice|publisher=American Psychological Association|year=2001|isbn=1-55798-757-2}}</ref> In that model, to forgive someone, the victim should examine the wrong they suffered, who caused it, and the context in which it happened; consider the anger they feel about it, any shame or guilt associated with it, and how it has affected them; decide whether they want to advance into an attitude of forgiveness, and, if so, work on understanding, compassion, and acceptance, and make a gesture of reconciliation to the offender; then, reformulate the way they remember the experience of being wronged and of developing forgiveness in ways that healthily integrate this into their life story.

A longitudinal study showed that people who were generally more [[neuroticism|neurotic]], angry, and hostile in life were less likely to forgive another person even after a long time had passed. They were more likely to avoid their transgressor and want to enact revenge upon them two and a half years after the transgression.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Maltby|first1=J.|last2=Wood|first2=A.M.|last3=Day|first3=L.|last4=Kon|first4=T.W.H.|last5=Colley|first5=A.|last6=Linley|first6=P.A.|year=2008|url=http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/alex.wood/forgiveness.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Personality predictors of levels of forgiveness two and a half years after the transgression|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319205217/http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/alex.wood/forgiveness.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-19|journal=Journal of Research in Personality|volume=42|issue=4 |pages=1088–1094|doi=10.1016/j.jrp.2007.12.008 }}</ref>

Studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentment.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2006 | url = http://www.forgiving.org | title = Forgiving |publisher=A Campaign for Forgiveness Research | access-date = 2006-06-19 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060615102050/http://www.forgiving.org/ | archive-date = 2006-06-15 }}</ref> The first study to look at how forgiveness improves physical health discovered that when people think about forgiving an offender their [[Cardiovascular System|cardiovascular]] and [[nervous system]] functioning improves.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=vanOyen-Witvilet|first1=C.|last2=Ludwig|first2=T.E.|first3=K.L.|last3=Vander Lann|title=Granting Forgiveness or Harboring Grudges: Implications for Emotions, Physiology, and Health|journal=Psychological Science|number=12|year=2001|volume=12 |pages=117–23|doi=10.1111/1467-9280.00320 |pmid=11340919 |s2cid=473643 |url=https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2300&context=faculty_publications |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Another study found the more forgiving people were, the less they suffered from a wide range of illnesses. Less forgiving people reported a greater number of health problems.<ref>{{cite journal|first=S.|last=Sarinopoulos|title=Forgiveness and Physical Health: A Doctoral Dissertation Summary|journal=World of Forgiveness|number=2|year=2000|pages=16–18}}</ref>

Dr. Fred Luskin of Stanford University, author of ''Forgive for Good'', presented evidence that forgiveness can be learned (i.e. is a teachable skill, with practice) based on research into the effects of teaching forgiveness. This research gave empirical support to the powerful, positive health effects of forgiveness. In three separate studies, including one with Catholics and Protestants from Northern Ireland whose family members were murdered in [[The Troubles|the political violence]], he found that people who are taught how to forgive become less angry, feel less hurt, are more optimistic, become more forgiving in a variety of situations, and become more compassionate and self-confident. His studies show a reduction in experience of stress, in physical manifestations of stress, and an increase in vitality.<ref name="fred">{{cite book |last1=Luskin |first1=Fred |url=https://archive.org/details/forgiveforgoodpr00lusk/page/7 |title=Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health & Happiness |date=September 2003 |publisher=HarperOne |isbn=978-0062517210 |page=[https://archive.org/details/forgiveforgoodpr00lusk/page/7 7–8]}}</ref>

In a study conducted in Rwanda to examine the discourses and practices of forgiveness following the [[Rwandan genocide|1994 genocide]], sociologist Benoit Guillou highlighted the extensive range of meanings associated with the term "forgiveness" and its underlying political nature. In the study's findings, the author presented four {{specify|date=July 2023}} primary aspects of forgiveness to facilitate a clearer comprehension of both its multifaceted applications and the circumstances in which forgiveness can contribute to the restoration of social connections.<ref name="BenoitGuillou">{{cite web |last=Guillou |first=Benoît |year=2014 |title=Le pardon est-il durable? Une enquête au Rwanda |url=https://blogbenoitguillou.net/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105223352/https://blogbenoitguillou.net/ |archive-date=2016-11-05 |language=fr |location=Paris}}</ref>

=== Ideas about what forgiveness is not ===
{{POV section|date=July 2023}}
Forgiveness does not encompass condoning, forgetting, or excusing the transgressor's actions. Additionally, the victim does not have to minimize their feelings of having been wronged in order to forgive, nor do they have to reconcile with the transgressor.<ref name="apa" /><ref name="fred" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Worthington |first1=Everett |date=25 July 2018 |title=Everett Worthington - Justice, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation: How Psychology Informs Theology |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVXYuPKXEOQ |access-date=19 December 2019 |website=Youtube |publisher=GordonConwell}}{{cbignore}} (Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JVXYuPKXEOQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200430053547/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVXYuPKXEOQ&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}})</ref> The focus of forgiveness is not to deny or suppress anger; rather, its focus is on dealing with resentment.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web |last1=Romm |first1=Cari |title=Rushing to Forgiveness is not a Binary State |url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/01/forgiveness-is-not-a-binary-state.html |website=The Cut |date=11 January 2017 |access-date=19 December 2019}}
|2={{Cite web|first1=Paul M.|last1=Hughes|first2=Brandon|last2=Warmke|url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/forgiveness/#EmotAcco|title=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy|at=Emotion Accounts (of what forgiveness is)|date=2017-05-31|access-date=2020-01-18}}
}}</ref><ref name="Stosny">{{cite book |last1=Stosny |first1=Steven |title=Living & Loving after Betrayal |date=September 1, 2013 |publisher=New Harbinger Publications |isbn=978-1608827527 |page=227}}</ref><ref name="fred" /> In particular, it is healthy to acknowledge and express negative emotions before one forgives.<ref name="Wanda" /> Forgiveness is also distinct from accountability or justice;<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web |last1=Enright |first1=Robert |title=Two Weaknesses of Forgiving: it victimizes and it stops justice |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-forgiving-life/201708/two-weaknesses-forgiving-it-victimizes-and-stops-justice |date=2017-08-10|website=Psychology Today |access-date=19 December 2019}}
|2={{cite web |last1=Marsh |first1=Jason |title=Is Vengeance Better For Victims, than Forgiveness? |url=https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/is_vengeance_better_for_victims_than_forgiveness |date=2015-07-29|website=Greater Good |access-date=19 December 2019}}
}}</ref> in particular, punishment and compensation are independent of the choice to forgive, and the victim can forgive or not forgive while still pursuing punishment and/or compensation.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite interview|last1=Luskin |first1=Fred|last2=Seago|first2=Laura |title=Forgiveness is not what you think it is |url=https://www.curablehealth.com/podcast/forgiveness-is-not-what-you-think-it-is-dr-fred-luskin |website=Curable Health |interviewer=Laura Seago|access-date=19 December 2019}}
|2={{Cite book|title=Exploring Forgiveness|last=North|first=Joanna|publisher=University of Wisconsin|year=1998|isbn=0299157741|page=17}}
}}</ref><ref name="Zaibert">{{cite journal |last1=Zaibert |first1=Loe |title=The Paradox of Forgiveness |journal=Journal of Moral Philosophy |year=2009 |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=365–393 |doi=10.1163/174552409X433436 |url=http://minerva.union.edu/zaibertl/zaibert%20the%20paradox%20of%20forgiveness.pdf |access-date=19 December 2019 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019081048/https://minerva.union.edu/zaibertl/zaibert%20the%20paradox%20of%20forgiveness.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> While a victim may have granted decisional forgiveness (refraining from seeking revenge, possibly reconciling), they may not have emotionally forgiven the offender (replacing negative emotions towards them with positive ones) or expressed forgiveness to them. Additionally, expressing emotions may be distinct from genuinely experiencing the emotions (i.e. people can claim one emotional experience while actually feeling something else instead).<ref name="Zaibert" /><ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web |last1=Seltzer |first1=Leon F. |title=Fake vs. True Forgiveness |url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/evolution-the-self/201502/fake-vs-true-forgiveness|date=2015-02-20|website=Psychology Today |access-date=19 December 2019}}
|2={{cite journal |last1=Worthington |first1=Everett |title=Forgiveness is an emotion-focused coping strategy that can reduce health risks and promote health resilience |journal=Psychology & Health |date=February 1, 2001 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=385–405 |doi=10.1080/0887044042000196674 |s2cid=10052021 |url=https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Worthington-ForgivenessCopingStrategy.pdf |access-date=19 December 2019}}
}}</ref> Although it is heavily debated,<ref name="Field" /> emotional forgiveness is generally considered to be for the victim and not the offender, unless the victim chooses to involve the offender by expressing forgiveness to them or reconciling. It is not considered to be something that can be granted by an uninvolved party.<ref name="apa" /><ref name="fred" />

=== The timeliness of forgiveness ===
Psychologist Wanda Malcolm, in ''Women's Reflections on the Complexities of Forgiveness'', outlines reasons why forgiveness takes time: when working on self (care/healing) takes priority (i.e. therapy, medical injuries, etc.), when issues of safety need to be addressed, and where facilitating forgiveness may be premature immediately after an interpersonal offense.<ref name="Wanda">{{cite book |last1=Malcolm |first1=Wanda |title=Women's Reflections on the Complexities of Forgiveness |date=Oct 19, 2007 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0415955058 |pages=275–291}}</ref> Malcolm explains that "premature efforts to facilitate forgiveness may be a sign of our reluctance to witness our client's pain and suffering and may unwittingly reinforce the client's belief that the pain and suffering is too much to bear and must be suppressed or avoided."<ref name="Wanda" />

Worthington ''et al.'' observed that "anything done to promote forgiveness has little impact unless substantial time is spent at helping participants think through and emotionally experience their forgiveness".<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Worthington | first1=Everett L. | last2=Kurusu | first2=Taro A. | last3=Collins | first3=Wanda | last4=Berry | first4=Jack W. | last5=Ripley | first5=Jennifer S. | last6=Baier | first6=Sasha N. | title=Forgiving Usually Takes Time: A Lesson Learned by Studying Interventions to Promote Forgiveness | journal=Journal of Psychology and Theology | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=28 | issue=1 | year=2000 | issn=0091-6471 | doi=10.1177/009164710002800101 | pages=3–20| s2cid=146762070 }}</ref> Efforts to facilitate forgiveness may be premature and even harmful immediately after an interpersonal injury.<ref name="Wanda" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/is-psychology-making-us-sick/201409/6-reasons-not-forgive-not-yet|title=6 reasons not to forgive, not yet|last=Bedrick|first=David|website=Psychology Today|date=2014-09-25|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref>