“Researching the process model of forgiveness within psychological interventions.”

Source: (1998) In Dimensions of forgiveness: Psychological research & theological forgiveness, ed. Everett L. Worthington, Jr., 139-161. With a preface and an introduction by Everett L. Worthington, Jr. Philadelphia: Templeton Foundation Press.

While the scientific community in the past largely ignored the issue of forgiveness in relation to human well-being, in recent years that has begun to change. In this context, Enright and Coyle, having worked with others to devise two prototype psychological interventions on forgiveness, present their intervention model. They begin by defining forgiveness and responding to certain philosophical objections to forgiveness. Then they detail a psychological process model of forgiveness; their model incorporates cognitive, behavioral, and affective aspects of the forgiveness process. This leads to their review of four research studies on forgiveness interventions. On the basis of their research and that of others, Enright and Coyle maintain that forgiveness can be learned and that the outcomes can be quite favorable, and they urge further research in this area.