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Evaluation of a Self-Forgiveness Intervention: Does it Promote Emotion Resolution and Prosocial Behavior?

Fisher, Mickie Lynn
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1205076695

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Clinical Psychology (Adult).
Self-forgiveness research indicates that resolving negative emotion about a transgression does not guarantee a prosocial response (e.g. apologizing or making amends; reducing defensiveness). A review of the literature indicates that the following processes may be important if emotion resolution and prosocial response are to occur: acknowledging responsibility, dealing with shame, apologizing and making amends, and releasing lingering negative feelings. In order to explore the role of these processes, undergraduates (n = 172) who had committed an offense against another person completed a web-based self-forgiveness intervention. The participants' emotional and behavioral responses were compared with the reactions of participants who did not receive the intervention. Results indicate that, compared to the control condition, the intervention significantly reduced participants' defensiveness regarding their role in the transgression and trended toward increasing their apology and amend behavior. Furthermore, in those who exhibited negative emotion at baseline, the intervention significantly reduced participants' feelings of remorse about their offense and trended toward decreasing shame and increasing self-forgiveness compared to the controlcondition. Suggestions for future self-forgiveness interventions are discussed.
Julie Exline, PhD (Advisor)
Russ Sandra, PhD (Committee Member)
Demaree Heath, PhD (Committee Member)
McGucken Emilia, PhD (Committee Member)
173 p.
Psychology
self-forgiveness; internet-based intervention; shame; guilt; prosocial behavior; transgression

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fisher, M. L. (2009). Evaluation of a Self-Forgiveness Intervention: Does it Promote Emotion Resolution and Prosocial Behavior? [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1205076695

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fisher, Mickie. Evaluation of a Self-Forgiveness Intervention: Does it Promote Emotion Resolution and Prosocial Behavior? 2009. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1205076695.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fisher, Mickie. "Evaluation of a Self-Forgiveness Intervention: Does it Promote Emotion Resolution and Prosocial Behavior?" Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1205076695

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1205076695
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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.