Introduction: Context, Overview, and Guiding Questions

Abstract

In this volume, we collect the state-of-the-art research reviews on forgiveness and mental health, physical health, and well-being. Forgiveness has been examined from moral, ethical, and philosophical perspectives. Other discussions of forgiveness consider ways to become more forgiving. Still others postulate evolutionary theories of revenge and forgiveness. In most of these descriptions of forgiveness, there is some attention paid to the benefits of forgiveness, but it is not central to the work. In the current volume, we focus specifically on connections between forgiveness and its health and well-being benefits. We organize the book to offer an understanding of the theories, methods, and research used in understanding the connections between forgiveness and health and well-being. Furthermore, we consider trait and state forgiveness, emotional and decisional forgiveness, and interventions to promote forgiveness all with an eye toward the positive effects of forgiveness for a victim's (and in some cases offender's) health and well-being. We will consider health to involve social and relational aspects, mental symptoms or disorders, and self-reported physical health, as well as, physiological indicators of good health, well-being/happiness, chronic health conditions, and adjustment to disease or disorder. In addition to documenting the breadth and diversity of the connections between forgiveness and health and well-being, we also include chapters in this volume that consider key moderators such as gender, race, and age, as well as, explanatory mechanisms that might mediate links between forgiveness and key outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)