Therapists' attitudes toward forgiveness: The relationship between forgiveness conceptualizations and predicted likelihood to assist clients to forgive during treatment
Year: 2013
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Research supports the use of forgiveness in psychotherapy; however, little is known about how this process is integrated into treatment. Views on the utility of forgiveness appear to be mixed. Differences in conceptualization appear to exist between interventionists who promote its use and those who argue against it. This study explored the potential relationship between therapists' conceptualization of forgiveness, categorized as either agreeing with popular interventionists or not, and their predicted assistance of client forgiveness, as well as relationships between attitudes toward forgiveness and other potentially related variables Two hundred sixty nine participants recruited from practice-focused graduate training institutions completed a web-based survey. Results indicated there was no significant relationship between therapist conceptualizations and their belief that they will help clients forgive. More positive attitudes toward forgiveness and greater religious commitment were significant predictors of likelihood to assist clients forgive. Attitudes were significantly predicted by religious commitment and dispositional forgiveness, when controlling for likelihood to help clients forgive. Limitations, future directions, and results are discussed in the context of multicultural training, values, and therapeutic decision-making.
Author: Cameron Cannon
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2526005152