Forgiveness: Theory, Research, and Practice

Michael E. McCullough, Kenneth Ira Pargament, Carl E. Thoresen

Guilford Press, Jan 1, 2000 - Psychology - 334 pages

Bringing together a distinguished array of researchers and scholars, this volume reviews the breadth of current knowledge on the psychology of forgiveness. In addition to presenting cutting-edge theory and research, the book outlines crucial issues that must be addressed to advance the state of the science in years to come. The first section provides a historical and conceptual overview, examining definitional problems and giving special attention to religious and cultural influences on how forgiveness is understood and experienced. The biological, developmental, social, and personality foundations of forgiveness are then explored. The final section covers applications in clinical research and practice, including guidelines for studying and applying forgiveness-based strategies in psychotherapy, counseling, and interventions to promote health. This volume will be of interest to a broad interdisciplinary audience of researchers, educators, students, and practicing professionals.

Contents

• The Psychology of Forgiveness History Conceptual Issues and Overview: 1
• Conceptual and Measurement Issues: 15
• Religious Perspectives on Forgiveness: 17
• The Meaning of Forgiveness in a Specific Situational and Cultural Context Persons Living with HIVAIDS in India: 41
• What We Know and Need to Know about Assessing Forgiveness Constructs: 65
• Basic Psychological Research: 89
• The Neuropsychological Correlates of Forgiveness: 91
• Developmental and Cognitive Points of View on Forgiveness: 111
• Expressing Forgiveness and Repentance Benefits and Barriers: 133
• Personality and Forgiveness: 156
• Applications in Counseling Psychotherapy and Health: 177
• Forgiveness as a Process of Change in Individual Psychotherapy: 179
• The Use of Forgiveness in Marital Therapy: 203
• Group Interventions to Promote Forgiveness What Researchers and Clinicians Ought to Know: 228
• Forgiveness and Health An Unanswered Question: 254
• Forgiveness in Pastoral Care and Counseling: 281
• Conclusion: 297
• The Frontier of Forgiveness Seven Directions for Psychological Study and Practice: 299
• Author Index: 321
• Subject Index: 329

About the author

Michael E. McCullough, PhD, is Director of Research at the National Institute for Healthcare Research in Rockville, Maryland. The author or coauthor of two previous books, Dr. McCullough investigates forgiveness, the association of religion and spirituality with physical and mental health, and the influence of religion and spirituality on counseling, psychotherapy, and care at the end of life.

Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Bowling Green State University, where he is also Director of Clinical Training of the clinical psychology PhD program. He has published extensively in the psychology of religion, stress, and coping, and is the author of The Psychology of Religion and Coping.

Carl E. Thoresen, PhD, is Professor of Education, Psychology, and Psychiatry/Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. His research interests involve assessment and management of the Type A behavior pattern, greater methodological diversity in behavioral health/medicine research, and the role of spiritual and religious factors in health, broadly defined. He is the author of 7 books and over 150 articles and book chapters.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Forgiveness: Theory, Research, and Practice
• Editors: Michael E. McCullough, Kenneth Ira Pargament, Carl E. Thoresen
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Guilford Press, 2000
• ISBN: 157230510X, 9781572305106
• Length: 334 pages
• Subjects: Psychology / Clinical Psychology; Psychology / Emotions; Psychology / Mental Health; Psychology / Psychopathology / Compulsive Behavior