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Defining Forgiveness: Historical Roots, Contemporary Research, and Key Considerations for Health Outcomes

  • Chapter
Forgiveness and Health

Abstract

In the growing literature on the psychology of forgiveness, definitions play a crucial role. Depending on how one defines forgiveness, the information gathered, conclusions drawn, and implications suggested can differ widely. This is particularly true for the relationship between forgiveness and health outcomes. In this chapter we review the theological, philosophical, and cultural roots of forgiveness as well as contemporary research into forgiveness as a multifaceted construct. Throughout the chapter, implications for how a given definition may relate forgiveness to health are offered. Ultimately, rather than arguing for a single broad definition, we provide five key considerations for use in future research into the forgiveness-health link.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Of course, variations in understandings of forgiveness within a given religious tradition are likely to be as great as the variations across religious traditions. However, for the purposes of the present review we provide basic, shared ideas within a given religious tradition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, W117 Lagomarcino Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Jeritt R. Tucker, Rachel L. Bitman, Nathaniel G. Wade & Marilyn A. Cornish

Authors
  1. Jeritt R. Tucker
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  2. Rachel L. Bitman
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  3. Nathaniel G. Wade
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  4. Marilyn A. Cornish
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Correspondence to Nathaniel G. Wade .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, USA

    Loren Toussaint

  2. Dept of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Everett Worthington

  3. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    David R. Williams

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Tucker, J.R., Bitman, R.L., Wade, N.G., Cornish, M.A. (2015). Defining Forgiveness: Historical Roots, Contemporary Research, and Key Considerations for Health Outcomes. In: Toussaint, L., Worthington, E., Williams, D. (eds) Forgiveness and Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9993-5_2

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