Author Archive: directorifi

I am considering conducting a research study with women who have been in unsuccessful marriages. Could you point me in the direction of any existing research in this area?

Yes, we have two published journal articles in which women, in unsuccessful marriages, learned to forgive with good mental health outcomes.  The references are as follows:

Reed, G. & Enright, R.D. (2006).  The effects of forgiveness therapy on depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress for women after spousal emotional abuse.  Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 920-929.

Nisar, S., Yu, L., Ifikhar, R., & Enright, R.D. (2025). Forgiveness therapy to build hope and reduce anxiety and depression in battered women in Pakistan. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70089

Dr. Enright’s forgiveness presentations encourage communities in Greece and Israel

Dr. Robert Enright

In May and June, 2025, Robert Enright presented two talks on forgiveness, one in Greece and one in Israel, both by Zoom:

Enright, R.D. (2025, May 7). Forgiveness for the common good in communities.  Presented to educators in Greece through Zoom.

Enright, R.D. (2025, June 12).  Forgiveness for emotional healing.  Presented to researchers and research participants in Israel through Zoom.

Could it be that forgiveness does not “work” for some people because they do not experience any relief?  I am kind of feeling this way toward my boss.  He is too abrupt with me.

When this occurs, I suggest: 1) allowing the person more time to forgive; if that doesn’t work, 2) attempting to see whether the one who acted unjustly reminds you of someone else who needs your forgiveness. For instance, is it possible that your struggle to forgive your boss is related to your unforgiveness of someone else?  For example, is it possible that you have issues with forgiveness towards your father?  If so, then I advise you to first forgive your father. Your resentment toward your father then does not interfere with your ability to forgive the boss when you turn your attention to it.  This is just an example, as I am unsure if you have any issues with your father that require your forgiveness.

July 17 Marks a Day of Forgiveness in the Face of Cruel Execution Over 230 Years Ago

Photo by Studio Saiz, Pexels.com

On July 17, 1794, and as part of the French Revolution, 16 Carmelite nuns were martyred at the guillotine in Paris. As she was facing death, one of the sisters, Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified, proclaimed, “I forgive you, my friends. I forgive you with all that longing of heart with which I would that God forgive me!” All of the sisters now are known as the Martyrs of Compiègne. Pope St. Pius X beatified all of these heroic sisters on May 27, 1906.

You emphasize getting to know the person in a broader sense, who is the offender.  Yet, what if the other is unknown to me?  How am I supposed to widen my view of this stranger?

We tend to emphasize three cognitive approaches in the forgiveness process.  The first is the Personal Perspective, in which the forgiver examines the personal history of the offending person, examining incidents in which this person has been hurt by others.  If you do not know the one who offended, then you cannot answer the questions in the Personal Perspective.  Yet, we also have what we call the Global Perspective in which the forgiver sees the shared inherent worth of both the offending person and the self.  After all, each is a person and all persons are unique, which makes each special and irreplaceable.  A third perspective, for those who have transcendent beliefs, is the Cosmic Perspective.  For example, a Jewish or Christian person can understand that all people are made in the image and likeness of God, as stated in Genesis 1 of the Bible.  So, even though you do not know the one who hurt you, both the Global and Cosmic Perspectives are available for you to do the cognitive work of forgiveness.