Tagged: “Dr. Robert Enright”
What do meta-analyses say about the number of forgiveness sessions? How many tend to lead to success?
One meta-analysis concludes that 12 or more weeks of a forgiveness intervention, for about an hour a week, seems to work in improving participants’ well being. The reference to that work is this:
Baskin, T.W., & Enright, R. D. (2004). Intervention studies on forgiveness: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling and Development, 82, 79-90.
Another meta-analysis by Lundahl and colleagues states that the longer forgiveness interventions work better than the shorter ones. That reference is:
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.
When you use the term “the forgiveness triangle,” what does that mean?
This refers to two people entering into the forgiveness and reconciliation process together. At least one seeks to be forgiven while the other forgives. This pattern also could involve both parties seeking and granting forgiveness. The third part is the actual reconciliation, after seeking forgiveness and forgiving have been well on their way to completion, so that mutual trust can be established in the reconciliation.
How open should I be with my children (ages 9 and 11) regarding my father (their grandfather)? He was abusive, and we are estranged from him. Do I give my children details about the injustice as I start to walk the path of forgiveness?
You need not go into details of your father’s abuses. You could say that there were injustices, and you can give some child-appropriate examples without going into details that are not fit for children. It would be good for them to hear of your forgiveness and how it is healing your heart. Eventually, the children might be able to share the joy of a true reconciliation if the abuse has ended and you have confidence that it indeed is over.
How should l correct a 6-year-old child who equates forgiveness with revenge?
You could show the child, through a picture book, such as Horton Hears a Who, that forgiveness involves patience, gentleness, and respect. In Horton Hears a Who, the kindly elephant is even patient with the jungle animals who tie him up and make fun of him. He does not take revenge, but shows patience and kindness.
Can you please provide a reference in which you studied young children learning about forgiveness with the use of the concept of inherent worth?
Yes, here is a study conducted in Northern Ireland with primary school children that focused on inherent worth and forgiveness. The first-grade students (Primary 3 in Northern Ireland) statistically significantly decreased in anger. The third-grade students (Primary 5 in Northern Ireland) showed a statistically significant increase in forgiving a person who hurt them. They statistically significantly decreased in anger and psychological depression.
Enright, R.D., Knutson, J.A., Holter, A.C., Baskin, T., & Knutson, C. (2007). Waging peace through forgiveness in Belfast, Northern Ireland II: Educational programs for mental health improvement of children. Journal of Research in Education, Fall, 63-78.
