Forgiveness in Health Research and Medical Practice

@article{citeulike:2626937, abstract = {In this issue, Worthington, Witvliet, Lerner, and Scherer discuss how forgiveness is taking its place as an important issue in healthcare. Many readers of EXPLORE may not realize that "forgiveness research" even exists. The field is indeed new, but, over the past decade, it has grown exponentially and is maturing admirably. We now know that there is not just a psychology underlying forgiveness but a physiology as well. Forgiveness is an ancient concept. It is enshrined in all the great religions as a gesture of supreme value. It is a mark of compassion, love, and caring--and is thus a natural concern of the healing professions, whose essence embodies these very qualities. There are no boundaries to forgiveness. Although Worthington et al focus on the importance of forgiveness within and between individuals, forgiveness is also being discussed at national and international levels. Should creditor nations forgive third-world debt? Should those who have been enslaved forgive their oppressors? Should victims of holocausts forgive their tormentors? Can we summon the humility that is required to seek forgiveness for our attempted genocide of native peoples? For degrading our environment, the only home we have? A society that cannot forgive is one without a heart. We should not wish to live in such a society--or a world--in which forgiveness is never extended. With the escalating religious and political hatreds around the world, and the increasingly sinister ways of seeking vengeance, it is uncertain whether a civilization that is devoid of forgiveness can continue to exist. These considerations exceed the concerns of Worthington et al, but they follow naturally from their findings. These authors and the forgiveness researchers they cite are onto something exceedingly important, something that is essential not just to our welfare but to our survival as well. Larry Dossey, MD Executive Editor,EXPLORE With the rising popularity of positive psychology, research on forgiveness has flourished. Forgiveness has been found to have application to the field of medicine. We review definitions and describe potential physical and mental benefits of forgiveness. We (1) address potential mechanisms by which forgiveness might affect physical health, (2) evaluate the research on forgiveness and mental health, (3) summarize research on interventions to promote forgiveness, (4) examine issues specifically related to medicine in which forgiveness might play an important role, and (5) discuss forgiveness of self and others and seeking forgiveness in light of those applications. We emphasize the importance of one's motive in forgiving, noting that altruistic motives hold greater benefits than do self-interested motives.}, author = {Worthington, Jr and Vanoyen and Lerner, Andrea J. and Scherer, Michael }, citeulike-article-id = {2626937}, doi = {10.1016/j.explore.2005.02.012}, journal = {EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing}, keywords = {forgiveness}, month = {May}, number = {3}, pages = {169--176}, posted-at = {2008-04-03 18:09:57}, priority = {2}, title = {Forgiveness in Health Research and Medical Practice}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2005.02.012}, volume = {1}, year = {2005} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2626937 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2626937 TI - Forgiveness in Health Research and Medical Practice JF - EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing VL - 1 IS - 3 SP - 169 EP - 176 N2 - In this issue, Worthington, Witvliet, Lerner, and Scherer discuss how forgiveness is taking its place as an important issue in healthcare. Many readers of EXPLORE may not realize that "forgiveness research" even exists. The field is indeed new, but, over the past decade, it has grown exponentially and is maturing admirably. We now know that there is not just a psychology underlying forgiveness but a physiology as well. Forgiveness is an ancient concept. It is enshrined in all the great religions as a gesture of supreme value. It is a mark of compassion, love, and caring--and is thus a natural concern of the healing professions, whose essence embodies these very qualities. There are no boundaries to forgiveness. Although Worthington et al focus on the importance of forgiveness within and between individuals, forgiveness is also being discussed at national and international levels. Should creditor nations forgive third-world debt? Should those who have been enslaved forgive their oppressors? Should victims of holocausts forgive their tormentors? Can we summon the humility that is required to seek forgiveness for our attempted genocide of native peoples? For degrading our environment, the only home we have? A society that cannot forgive is one without a heart. We should not wish to live in such a society--or a world--in which forgiveness is never extended. With the escalating religious and political hatreds around the world, and the increasingly sinister ways of seeking vengeance, it is uncertain whether a civilization that is devoid of forgiveness can continue to exist. These considerations exceed the concerns of Worthington et al, but they follow naturally from their findings. These authors and the forgiveness researchers they cite are onto something exceedingly important, something that is essential not just to our welfare but to our survival as well. Larry Dossey, MD Executive Editor,EXPLORE With the rising popularity of positive psychology, research on forgiveness has flourished. Forgiveness has been found to have application to the field of medicine. We review definitions and describe potential physical and mental benefits of forgiveness. We (1) address potential mechanisms by which forgiveness might affect physical health, (2) evaluate the research on forgiveness and mental health, (3) summarize research on interventions to promote forgiveness, (4) examine issues specifically related to medicine in which forgiveness might play an important role, and (5) discuss forgiveness of self and others and seeking forgiveness in light of those applications. We emphasize the importance of one's motive in forgiving, noting that altruistic motives hold greater benefits than do self-interested motives. KW - forgiveness AU - Worthington, Jr AU - Vanoyen AU - Lerner, Andrea AU - Scherer, Michael PY - 2005/05// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2005.02.012 ER -