Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness

Description

The present volume is a ground-breaking and agenda-setting investigation of the psychology of self-forgiveness. It brings together the work of expert clinicians and researchers working within the field, to address questions such as: Why is self-forgiveness so difficult? What contexts and psychological experiences give rise to the need for self-forgiveness? What approaches can therapists use to help people process difficult experiences that elicit guilt, shame and self-condemnation? How can people work through their own failures and transgressions? Assembling current theories and findings, this unique resource reviews and advances our understanding of self-forgiveness, and its potentially critical function in interpersonal relationships and individual emotional and physical health. The editors begin by exploring the nature of self-forgiveness. They consider its processes, causes, and effects, how it may be measured, and its potential benefits to theory and psychotherapy. Expert clinicians and researchers then examine self-forgiveness in its many facets; as a response to guilt and shame, a step toward processing transgressions, a means of reducing anxiety, and an essential component of, or, under some circumstances a barrier to, psychotherapeutic intervention. Contributors also address self-forgiveness as applied to diverse psychosocial contexts such as addiction and recovery, couples and families, healthy aging, the workplace, and the military. Among the topics in the Handbook: An evolutionary approach to shame-based self-criticism, self-forgiveness and compassion.Working through psychological needs following transgressions to arrive at self-forgiveness.Self-forgiveness and health: a stress-and-coping model.Self-forgiveness and personal and relational well-being.Self-directed intervention to promote self-forgiveness. Understanding the role of forgiving the self in the act of hurting oneself. The Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness serves many healing professionals. It covers a wide range of problems for which individuals often seek help from counselors, clergy, social workers, psychologists and physicians. Research psychologists, philosophers, and sociologists studying self-forgiveness will also find it an essential handbook that draws together the advances made over the past several decades, and identifies important directions for the road ahead. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxi Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Orientation to the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness (Lydia Woodyatt, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Michael Wenzel, Brandon J. Griffin)....Pages 3-16 Understanding Shame and Guilt (Colin Wayne Leach)....Pages 17-28 An Evolutionary Approach to Shame-Based Self-Criticism, Self-Forgiveness, and Compassion (Paul Gilbert, Lydia Woodyatt)....Pages 29-41 Working Through Psychological Needs Following Transgressions to Arrive at Self-Forgiveness (Lydia Woodyatt, Michael Wenzel, Melissa de Vel-Palumbo)....Pages 43-58 Repairing Meaning, Resolving Rumination, and Moving toward Self-Forgiveness (Kirsten L. Graham, Jessica L. Morse, Maeve B. O’Donnell, Michael F. Steger)....Pages 59-72 Front Matter ....Pages 73-73 The Measurement of Dispositional Self-Forgiveness (Peter Strelan)....Pages 75-86 Self-Forgiveness and Health: A Stress-and-Coping Model (Loren L. Toussaint, Jon R. Webb, Jameson K. Hirsch)....Pages 87-99 Self-Forgiveness and Personal and Relational Well-Being (Michael Massengale, Elise Choe, Don E. Davis)....Pages 101-113 Self-Forgiveness Within Couple Transgressions (Sara Pelucchi, Camillo Regalia, F. Giorgia Paleari, Frank D. Fincham)....Pages 115-130 Self-Forgiveness and Religious/Spiritual Struggles (Julie J. Exline, Joshua A. Wilt, Nick Stauner, Valencia A. Harriott, Seyma N. Saritoprak)....Pages 131-145 The Dark Side of Self-Forgiveness: Forgiving the Self Can Impede Change for Ongoing, Harmful Behavior (Michael J. A. Wohl, Melissa M. Salmon, Samantha J. Hollingshead, Sara K. Lidstone, Nassim Tabri)....Pages 147-159 Front Matter ....Pages 161-161 Self-Forgiveness in Individual Psychotherapy: Therapeutic Models and Counseling Outcomes (Marilyn A. Cornish, Nathaniel G. Wade, Ana Cikara)....Pages 163-177 Group Intervention to Promote Self-Forgiveness (Everett L. Worthington Jr., Brandon J. Griffin, Nathaniel G. Wade)....Pages 179-192 Self-Forgiveness in Couple and Family Therapy (Elizabeth G. Ruffing, Sarah H. Moon, Jennifer Krier, David R. Paine, Eliyohu Wolff, Steven J. Sandage)....Pages 193-206 Self-Directed Intervention to Promote Self-Forgiveness (Brandon J. Griffin, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Christopher M. Bell, Don E. Davis)....Pages 207-218 Front Matter ....Pages 219-219 Self-Forgiveness and Military Service: Equipping Warriors to Combat Moral Injury (Brandon J. Griffin, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Steven J. Danish, John Donovan, Caroline R. Lavelock, Laurel Shaler et al.)....Pages 221-233 Self-Forgiveness and Treating Personality Disorders (Frederick A. DiBlasio)....Pages 235-248 Self-Forgiveness, Self-Harm, and Suicidal Behavior: Understanding the Role of Forgiving the Self in the Act of Hurting One’s Self (Jameson K. Hirsch, Jon R. Webb, Loren L. Toussaint)....Pages 249-264 Self-Forgiveness, Addiction, and Recovery (Jon R. Webb, Loren L. Toussaint, Jameson K. Hirsch)....Pages 265-277 Self-Forgiveness and Hypersexual Behavior (David K. Mosher, Joshua N. Hook, Joshua B. Grubbs)....Pages 279-291 Self-Forgiveness at Work: Finding Pathways to Renewal When Coping with Failure or Perceived Transgressions (Lydia Woodyatt, Marilyn A. Cornish, Mikaela Cibich)....Pages 293-307 Self-Forgiveness and Pursuit of the Sacred: The Role of Pastoral-Related Care (Jon R. Webb, Jameson K. Hirsch, Loren L. Toussaint)....Pages 309-325 Self-Forgiveness in Older Adulthood (Tim Windsor)....Pages 327-340 Conclusion: The Road So Far and the Road Ahead (Lydia Woodyatt, Everett L. Worthington Jr., Michael Wenzel, Brandon J. Griffin)....Pages 341-350 Back Matter ....Pages 351-369