Forgiveness and Flourishing at the Intersection of Spirituality and Science

Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet, Ph.D.

15 years ago: The JTF issued a Request for Proposals on the Scientific Study of the Subject of Forgiveness

PsycINFO database publications on forgiveness using the search term forgiv*

300

Output Has the Templeton RFP been associated with a significant rise in scholarly output on forgiveness?

250 200 150 100 50 0

19 95 19 97 20 07 20 09 20 03 20 11 19 93 19 99 20 01 20 05
Templeton Forgiveness RFP

PsycINFO database publications on forgiveness using the search term forgiv*

300 250 200 150 100 50 0
19 95 20 05 20 09 19 93 19 97 20 01 19 99 20 03 20 07 20 11
Cumulative 3043 results

Peer-Reviewed Psychology Research

PsycINFO forgiv* Articles: Peer-Reviewed & Research Methodology 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Pre-1997 1998-June 2012

Templeton Forgiveness RFP

Psychology Dissertations
PsycINFO Dissertations on forgiv* 500 400 300 200 100 0 Pre-1997 1998-June 2012
30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Psychology Book Titles

PsycINFO Books Titles with forgiv*

Pre-1997

1998-June 2012

Post-RFP Books by APA Press

PsycINFO forgiv* AND spiritual*

PsycINFO forgiv* AND spiritual* results 500 400 300 200 100 0 pre-1997 1998-June 2012

Work that connects forgiveness to other values and virtues

Love Humility Openness to God Gratitude Creativity Freedom Purpose

PsycINFO forgiv* AND _______

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Love Humility God Gratitude Creativity Freedom Purpose in life

Medical Database Sources

MedLine Sources with forgiv* 300

pre-1997

1998-June 2012

250 200 150 100 50 0 1983-1997 1998-2012

Largest Worldwide Library Catalog Book Titles with forgiv* Outcomes Has the Templeton RFP been associated with a significant rise in available forgiveness resources?
5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1983-1997 1998-2012 WorldCat Book Titles

Largest Worldwide Library Visual Materials with forgiv*

WorldCat Visual Materials 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1983-1997 1998-2012

Percent of words in all electronically searchable books: forgive

Templeton RFP

Search in Google

International Forgiveness Research Outcomes Has the Templeton RFP been associated with work that transcends boundaries?
Examples Arab Israeli adolescents in Israel Iranian marriages Iraqi refugees Lebanese Muslims and Christians, and French Christians Work in China, Cyprus, Portugal, France, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Rwanda.

Interdisciplinary Scholarship
Theology Philosophy Political Science Psychological science

Impact Is the topic of forgiveness more present in the public square?

Psychology and counseling professions Medicine

Newspaper Sources
INFOTRAC NewsStand Sources with forgiv* 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 1983-1997 1998-2012
7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0

Popular Magazine Sources

INFOTRAC Popular Magazine Sources with forgiv*

1983-1997

1998-2012

*Funded by Fetzer Institute

*Funded by JTF & Fetzer Institute

Impact Is forgiveness more widely addressed in the public square as a positive virtue?
The rise of documentaries

Fetzer funded PBS Stations & Community Agency Partnerships; Classroom Conversation Guides, Podcasts, Library Partnerships
*Funded by JTF & Fetzer Institute *Funded by Fetzer Institute

Pre-1997 RFP: religious conversations Impact Has the Templeton RFP been associated with a shift in the cultural content of conversations about forgiveness?
Your faith calls you to forgive. How do you do that?

Pre-1997 RFP: religious conversations

Your faith calls you to forgive. How do you do that? - resist hate, bitterness, revenge-seeking - let it go - turn it over to God - reconcile - emphasize mercy, not justice Cultural criticism: forgive = doormat People who forgive lack self-respect, good judgment, control, and put themselves at risk of harm.

Pre-Post shifts in Cultural Conversations

From forgive & forget TO forgive & remember remember truthfully and with the desire for the offender to be positively transformed From either justice or forgiveness TO both justice and forgiveness From forgiveness makes you a doormat TO genuine forgiveness is a sign of strength From forgiveness is for religious people TO forgiveness is for anyone

Pre-Post shifts in Cultural Conversations

From forgiveness is spiritual TO forgiveness is spiritual and physically embodied From forgiveness is for the benefit of the offender (religious) TO forgiveness benefits the one forgiven, the forgiver, and others From forgiveness is for the benefit of the self (secular) TO forgiveness benefits the one forgiven, the forgiver, and others From forgiveness and reconciliation TO forgiveness even when reconciliation is not possible, safe, or wise

Pre-Post shifts in Cultural Conversations

From forgiveness means going back to the way things were TO forgiveness creates a new future that integrates the past From Divine forgiveness and interpersonal forgiveness TO Divine forgiveness, interpersonal forgiveness, selfforgiveness, and resolving anger with God From forgiveness is a response TO forgiveness is a response and can be a personality trait From seeing forgiveness as one thing TO seeing forgiveness as multifaceted, in context

Features of forgiveness
Forgiveness is a moral response to relational injustice Forgiveness overcomes hostility, avoidance, and responses that diminish the offender AND forgiveness gives goodwill, compassion, love that seeks the offenders positive transformation WHILE holding the offender responsible (justice) AND forgiveness can be genuine even if reconciliation is not possible, safe, or wise

What spiritual progress has been made?

Forgiveness can promotes human flourishing Forgiveness can saves lives Forgiveness can contribute to relational repair Forgiveness can positively affects other relationships

Important investigations for forgiveness and spiritual progress

Top research articles since the JTF RFP by citation impact:

Top cited empirical research papers (since JTF initiative)

1) McCullough, M. E., Rachal, K. C., Sandage, S. J., Worthington, E. L., Brown, S. W., & Hight, T. L. (1998). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships: II. Theoretical elaboration and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(6), 1586-1603. 407 other PsycINFO sources cite this Developed the TRIM, a measure of unforgiveness (revenge and avoidance), later adapted to also measure forgiveness (benevolence). Significant roles of empathy, rumination, apology, and prior relationship closeness

Top cited empirical research papers (since JTF initiative)

2) Aquino, K., Tripp, T. M., & Bies, R. J. (2006). Getting even or moving on? Power, procedural justice, and types of offense as predictors of revenge, forgiveness, reconciliation, and avoidance in organizations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91(3), 653-668. 381 other PsycINFO sources cite this Emphasis on justice as important for limiting revenge and promoting forgiveness in high status workers.

Top cited empirical research papers (since JTF initiative)

3) Witvliet, C. V. O., Ludwig, T. E., & Vander Laan, K. L. (2001). Granting forgiveness or harboring grudges: Implications for emotion, physiology, and health. Psychological Science, 12(2), 117-123. 223 other PsycINFO sources cite this Forgiveness factors are embodied in physiological reactions. Constructs of rumination, revenge, empathy, and forgiveness as both letting go of the negative and as giving goodwill. Experimental methodology: reliable differences between unforgiving and forgiving responses; and across verbal and physical variables: blood pressure, heart rate, sweat, facial muscles

Top cited empirical research papers (since JTF initiative)

4) Finkel, E. J., Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., & Hannon, P. A. (2002). Dealing with betrayal in close relationships: Does commitment promote forgiveness? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 956-974. 188 other PsycINFO sources cite this Significant role of relationship commitment (not selforientation)

Top cited research papers (since JTF initiative)

5) McCullough, M. E., Bellah, C. G., Kilpatrick, S. D., & Johnson, J. L. (2001). Vengefulness: Relationships with forgiveness, rumination, well-being, and the big five. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(5), 601-610. 181 other PsycINFO sources cite this Personality variables important (especially agreeableness, also neuroticism)

Important development in research forgiveness

from descriptive to experimental research from cross-sectional to longitudinal follow-up from novel findings to replicated results from qualitative summaries to meta-analyses

Key Research Studies: Meta-Analyses

Wade, Worthington, & Meyer (2005). But do they work? A meta-analysis of group interventions to promote forgiveness. (Handbook of forgiveness)
Effective transformation: *explicit focus on forgiveness (not general) *role of empathy for transgressor *theoretically grounded, full interventions (not partial) *time spent matters: 4-6 hours of forgiveness intervention (dose-response relationship)

Key Research Studies

Baskin, T. W., & Enright, R. D. (2004). Intervention studies on forgiveness: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(1), 79-90.
decision-based interventions: not effective, process-based group interventions: significant effects, process-based individual interventions: significant and large effects.

Key Research Studies

Lundahl, B. W., Taylor, M. J., Stevenson, R., & Roberts, K. D. (2008). Process-based forgiveness interventions: A meta-analytic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 18(5), 465-478. forgiveness interventions (vs. comparison group) * increase forgiveness, * increased positive affect, self-esteem * decreased negative affect * individual interventions superior to group interventions.

Key Research Studies

Fehr, R., Gelfand, M. J., & Nag, M. (2010). The road to forgiveness: A meta-analytic synthesis of its situational and dispositional correlates. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 894-914. Cognitive Affective Constraints

Key Research Studies

Fehr, R., Gelfand, M. J., & Nag, M. (2010). The road to forgiveness: A meta-analytic synthesis of its situational and dispositional correlates. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 894914. No significant relationship to forgiveness: positive mood, self-esteem, gender, time since offense Very small effects: social desireability, age Small effects: severity of the harm, relationship closeness, relationship commitment, negative mood, depression, neurotic personality, angry personality, empathic personality, general religiosity

Key Research Studies

Fehr, R., Gelfand, M. J., & Nag, M. (2010). The road to forgiveness: A meta-analytic synthesis of its situational and dispositional correlates. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 894914. Cognitive -Medium effects:
transgressors intent, apology, responsibility victims satisfaction in the relationship with the transgressor victims rumination

Key Research Studies

What about religious factors?
Fehr et al. (2010) in Psychological Bulletin When general religiosity is aggregated, it has a small yet reliable effect Wade et al. (2008) in Journal of Psychology and Christianity Religious commitment (for Christians only) predicted trait forgivingness, which mediated the relationship with lower rumination, lower revenge. Lambert, Fincham, Stillman, Graham, & Beach (2010) in Psychological Science Praying for a relationship partner facilitated forgiving that partner.

Affective
-Medium Effect: victims state anger -Strong Effect: victims state empathy for the offender

Key Research Studies

Example of Longitudinal Research Braithwaite, S.R., Selby, E.A., & Fincham, F.D. (2011). Forgiveness and relationship satisfaction: Mediating mechanism. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 551-559. Forgiveness predicted relationship self-regulation and low negative interpersonal tactics, and these predicted relationship satisfaction.

Important investigation of my own

Witvliet, C. V.O., Knoll, R. W., Hinman, N. G., & DeYoung, P. A. (2010). Compassion-focused reappraisal, benefit-focused reappraisal, and rumination after an interpersonal offense: Emotion-regulation implications for subjective emotion, linguistic responses, and physiology. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(3), 226-242.

Note: several studies show that in negative relationships, forgiveness can be associated with an increase in later mistreatment. Justice matters.

Offense Rumination
Mental rehearsal focused on the offender, the hurtful offense, and its consequences.

Offense Reappraisal
Reappraisal remains focused on the offense, but with a new perspective Compassion Focus other-oriented, focused on giving Benefits Focus self-oriented, focused on receiving

Compared to Offense Reappraisal

Remains focused on the offense, but with a new perspective Compassion Focus other-oriented, focused on giving Benefits Focus self-oriented, focused on receiving

Compassion-Focused Reappraisal
focus on the humanity of the offender, see transgression as evidence of the offenders clear need for positive transformation, and genuinely wish him or her well.

Benefit-Focused Reappraisal
focus on insights gained, strengths shown, or lessons learned through the difficult experience

Does not overlook or minimize the offense.

Is not masochistic, and does not overlook the costs.

Experiment
7

Both Compassion-Focused and Benefit-Focused Reappraisals Reduced Arousal and Negative Emotion Compared to Offense Rumination

Participants 38 Females, 33 Males

Av erage R atings (1-7 Sc ale)
6

Offense C

Compassion-Focus

Offense B

Benefit-Focus

Within-subjects repeated measures design Every participant completed every condition Participants randomly assigned to one of two condition orders

Arousal

Anger

Sadness

Both Compassion-Focused and Benefit-Focused Reappraisal Increased Positive Emotion Compared to Offense Rumination
7
Offense (C) Compassion-Focus Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

Both Compassion-Focused and Benefit-Focused Reappraisal Increased Prosocial and Moral Emotions Compared to Offense Rumination
7

6
Offense (C) 6
Average Ratings (1-7 Scale)

Compassion-Focus

Offense (B)

Benefit-Focus

Average Ratings (1-7 Scale)

Neg/Pos Valence Happiness Joy Peace Control

1
1

Empathy

Emotional Forgiveness

Gratitude

10

Compassion and Benefit-Focused Reappraisal Decreased Negative Language Compared to Offense

10
Offense (C)

Compassion-Focused and Benefit-Focused Reappraisals Increased Positive Language Compared to Offense

12
Offense (C) Compassion-Focus

9 8 Average Word Count 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Negative Emotion Anxiety Anger Sadness

Compassion-Focus Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

10

Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

Average Word Count

*
6

Costs

0 Positive Emotion Insight Forgiveness Benefits

Social Words: Compassion-Focused Reappraisal Increased and Benefit-Focus Decreased Them

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Social Words

Both Positive Reappraisals Calmed Corrugator (Brow) EMG

Offense (C)

2.500 uV Change from Pretrial Baseline

Compassion Offense (B) Benefit-Finding

2.000

Average Word Count

1.500

* ***

1.000

0.500

0.000 Offense (C) Compassion Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

Compassion-Focused Reappraisal Calmed Orbicularis Oculi (Under Eye) EMG

2.000

Only Benefit-Focused Reappraisal Increased Zygomatic EMG (Smiling)

0.400

1.800 uV Change from Pretrial Baseline

*
0.350 uV Change from Pretrial Baseline
Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

1.600 1.400 1.200 1.000 0.800 0.600 0.400 0.200 0.000 Offense (C) Compassion

0.300 0.250 0.200 0.150 0.100 0.050 0.000 Offense (C) Compassion Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

11

Only Compassion-Focused Reappraisal Calmed the Cardiac Cycle (R-R Intervals, inverted)
25
200

Only Benefit-Focused Reappraisal Improved Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity

ms Change from Pretrial Baseline (Inverted)

Offense (C) Compassion

Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

20
ms Change from Pretrial Baseline

100 0 -100 -200 -300 -400 -500 -600

15

10

***

**

0 Offense (C) -5 Compassion Offense (B) Benefit-Focus

Compared to rumination Both Compassion-Focused and BenefitFocused Reappraisals:

decreased negative emotions
Ratings Writing Facial brow muscle

Compassion unique effects

stimulated the highest empathy ratings prompted the most forgiving and social language calmed eye muscle (orbicularis oculi) EMG calmed cardiac R-R intervals

increased positive, moral emotions

Ratings Writing

Benefit-Focus unique effects

highest gratitude and joy ratings highest gratitude language reduced social language increased zygomatic smile EMG at the cheek activated the parasympathetic nervous system

and
Compassion-focused reappraisal promoted forgiveness, and also gratitude. Benefit-focused reappraisal promoted gratitude, and also forgiveness.

Both reappraisal strategies are positive antidotes to rumination

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Spiritual foundations
Biblical Texts Worship Theology
While forgiveness ends redemptively, it begins with the frank acknowledgment of relational brokenness--and thus resists sentimental ways of ignoring or sugarcoating this reality

Psalm 51 1 Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 I admit that I am rebellious. My sin is always in front of me. 4 I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge. 10 Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me. 11 Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience. 13 Then I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you. 14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness! 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise. 16 You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.

Ephesians 4:32 ~ Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Colossians 3:13 ~ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Matthew 18: 21-22 ~ Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

Worship Baptism Communion The Lords Prayer Confession & Assurance of Pardon

Forgivenessa Jewish perspective

Louis Newman, Ph.D., the Musser Professor of Religious Studies, Director, Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching, Carleton College

Justice and forgiveness are both rooted in Gods character of love. Themes that promote forgiveness: -Seeing people as bearing the image of God -Seeing our need for forgiveness

View 1 = Justice Primary in legalistic forgiveness

If offender takes appropriate steps (e.g., payment of damages) and explicitly asks for forgiveness (ordinarily 3x), then forgiveness is a required response. Sees unconditional forgiveness as undermining the repentance of transgressor (Note: research by Finkel, Luchies, McNulty in this vein)

View 2 Mercy Primary in visionary forgiveness

Forgiveness offered freely, unconditionally, generously, emphasis on compassion, role of prayer Imitatio Dei we imitate God, agents of Gods love and compassion in the world, humility in morality and mortality Meets offender half way in granting a gift that invites the offender into a different moral realm

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Forgivenessa Muslim perspective

Future Spiritual Progress:

Build on momentum for the deep work of forgiveness that builds enduring shalom -overcome the egoistic, superficial, individualistic versions -forgiveness is moral response to relational injustice -realize that affective, mental health, and physiological benefits are side-effects of forgiveness

Anas Malik, Ph.D., Political Science, Assoc. Prof. at Xavier University Normative teachings in Islam:
Divine is All-Merciful, Giver of Mercy, Forgiving One, the Kind The believing Muslim is to reflect Divine attributes

Muslim Christian A Common Word Between Us www.acommonword.com

People of the Book, Abrahamic traditions Consensus letter from Muslim scholars to Christian leaders, with responses Path-breaking, reset, signals trust-building *Love God *Love your neighbor Move from document to social practices of peace and harmony based on these commandments

Future Spiritual Progress:

Focus on the relational role of interpersonal forgiveness -develop more sophisticated research paradigms to study both parties Research with understudied populations: children, cognitively impaired, best practices in educational settings Increased focus on understanding the offender role and promoting deep transformation Integrating work on forgiveness-seeking, confession, apology, restitution, repentance Develop work on how to receive forgiveness graciously

Future Spiritual Progress:

Practice: Identify best people in each tradition and profession to train clergy, spiritual directors, and counselors in the vital roles of justice and compassion, of repentance and reconciliation effective interventions that transform hearts, minds, relationships

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