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What We Believe: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

What We Believe: Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Jaimée Allman & Geoffrey Sutton Evangel University. Overview.

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What We Believe: Forgiveness and Reconciliation

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  1. What We Believe: Forgiveness and Reconciliation Jaimée Allman & Geoffrey Sutton Evangel University Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  2. Overview Our purpose was to explore how participants conceptualize forgiveness, reconciliation, guilt, and trust, as well as the relationship between the aforementioned variables to willingness to forgive, and to spirituality. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  3. Scripture The text of Matthew 6 suggests an expectation of reconciliation. Matthew 6 and Matthew 18 suggest negative consequences for failing to forgive. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  4. What is Forgiveness? Despite exponential growth in published research on the psychology of forgiveness, researchers have not reached a consensus on a definition of forgiveness (Worthington, 2006). Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  5. Something in Common Some psychological researchers have noted commonalities such as noting that forgiving an offender is distinct from condoning, denying, excusing, forgetting, or pardoning an offender (Enright & Coyle, 1998; McCullough, Bono, & Root, 2005). Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  6. Forgiveness & Reconciliation Most psychological researchers also assert that forgiveness is distinct from reconciliation (e.g., Enright, Gassin, & Wu, 1992; Sutton & Thomas, 2005b; Worthington & Drinkard, 2000). Forgiveness is intrapersonal Reconciliation is interpersonal Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  7. A Difference In contrast to these conceptualizations, Aquino, Tripp, and Bies (2001) viewed reconciliation as a behavioral manifestation of forgiveness. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  8. Research by Kanz, 2000 Most undergraduate respondents did not distinguish between the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation. This forgiveness-reconciliation issue is a key focus of our study along with looking at the parameters of forgiveness in “everyday use.” Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  9. Our Purpose 1. We hypothesized that we would find support for Kanz’ findings that forgiveness and reconciliation are overlapping concepts for most people. 2. We hypothesized that most participants would recognize the difference between forgiveness and select related concepts like trust and apology. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  10. Our Purpose 3. We hypothesized that most participants would recognize the difference between forgiveness and the restoration of errant leaders Here we report some initial findings… Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  11. General Procedure • Presented packets to students • Consent signed • Forgiveness concept items • Two measures • Demographic questions • Explained survey at the end Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  12. Study Materials • Forgiveness survey 14 items: Likert type (Adapted from Kanz, 2000) • Willingness to Forgive 12 item Likert type scale (DeShea, 2003) • Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith 5 item Likert type scale (Plante et al., 2002) Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  13. Participants Christian College Women = 113 Men = 52 Age (M = 19.42, SD = 2.11) Non-Christian College Women = 32 Men = 10 Age (M = 20.69, SD = 6.38) Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  14. Participants Christian College Ethnicity Percent European 83.1 African 3.6 Hispanic 4.2 Native American 1.2 Non-Christian College Ethnicity Percent European 79.5 African 4.5 Hispanic 2.3 Asian/Pacific 2.3 Other 6.8 Not reporting 4.5 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  15. Participants Christian College Willingness to Forgive M = 41.87, SD = 11.48 Coeff alpha = .91 Spirituality (Santa Clara) M = 17.51, SD =2.48 Coeff alpha = .83 Non-Christian College Willingness to Forgive M = 41.28, SD = 13.98 Coeff alpha = .93 Spirituality (Santa Clara) M = 14.44, SD = 4.12 Coeff alpha = .91 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  16. Survey Results Strongly Agree +Agree =Agree percentage Strongly Disagree + Disagree = Disagree percentage. We did not include the neutral percentage, which can be deduced by subtraction. We invite you to interact with us by considering each question. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  17. 1: Christians are more forgiving 1: In general, Christians are more forgiving than non-Christians. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  18. 1: In general, Christians are more forgiving than non-Christians. Non-Christian College Agree 38.6 ; Disagree36.4 Christian College Agree 33.1; Disagree36.1 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  19. 2: An apology is necessary 2: An apology is necessary before I would forgive someone for other than a minor offense. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  20. 2: An apology is necessary before I would forgive someone for other than a minor offense. Non-Christian College Agree 70.9 ; Disagree31.8 Christian College Agree 15.8; Disagree66.1 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  21. 3. Forgiveness is Christian 3: Forgiveness is primarily a Christian idea. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  22. 3: Forgiveness is primarily a Christian idea. Non-Christian College Agree 11.3 ; Disagree 70.4 Christian College Agree 16.3; Disagree 66.9 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  23. 4. guilt 4: I feel guilty if I do not forgive someone. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  24. 4: I feel guilty if I do not forgive someone. Non-Christian College Agree 54.6 ; Disagree 15.9 Christian College Agree 73.5; Disagree6.0 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  25. 5. friend versus stranger 5: It is easier to forgive a friend or family member than a stranger for the same offense. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  26. 5: It is easier to forgive a friend or family member than a stranger for the same offense. Non-Christian College Agree 63.6 ; Disagree31.8 Christian College Agree 40; Disagree45.5 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  27. 6. Forgive and forget? 6: I think true forgiveness means you try to forget what the person did to you. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  28. 6: I think true forgiveness means you try to forget what the person did to you. Non-Christian College Agree 52.3 ; Disagree34.1 Christian College Agree 43.9; Disagree41.4 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  29. 7. reconciliation 7: I think true forgiveness means you also reconcile with the person who offended you. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  30. 7: I think true forgiveness means you also reconcile with the person who offended you. Non-Christian College Agree 81.9 ; Disagree6.8 Christian College Agree 70.9; Disagree17.5 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  31. 8. admit and change 8: People need to admit what they have done and change before you forgive them. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  32. 8: People need to admit what they have done and change before you forgive them. Non-Christian College Agree 36.4 ; Disagree43.1 Christian College Agree 31.3; Disagree53.7 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  33. 9. restoration 9: If someone lost their job or position of leadership because of wrongdoing, then forgiveness means they must be restored to their former position. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  34. 9: If someone lost their job or position of leadership because of wrongdoing, then forgiveness means they must be restored to their former position. Non-Christian College Agree 9.1 ; Disagree77.3 Christian College Agree 2.4; Disagree89.2 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  35. 10. forgive to be forgiven 10: People must forgive others in order to obtain God’s forgiveness. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  36. 10: People must forgive others in order to obtain God’s forgiveness. Non-Christian College Agree 65.2 ; Disagree18.6 Christian College Agree 65.6; Disagree18.1 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  37. 11. trust 11: If you forgive someone it means you start trusting them again. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  38. 11: If you forgive someone it means you start trusting them again. Non-Christian College Agree 13.6 ; Disagree61.3 Christian College Agree 9.6; Disagree69.3 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  39. 12. too forgiving? 12: If you are too free with forgiveness, you will encourage people to keep hurting others. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  40. 12: If you are too free with forgiveness, you will encourage people to keep hurting others. Non-Christian College Agree 36.4 ; Disagree40.9 Christian College Agree 22.3; Disagree55.4 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  41. 13. anger 13: When you truly forgive people, you are no longer angry with them for what they did. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  42. 13. When you truly forgive people, you are no longer angry with them for what they did. Non-Christian College Agree 59.1 ; Disagree25 Christian College Agree 65.1; Disagree18.1 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  43. 14. avoidance 14: If you truly forgive people, you stop avoiding them when you see them. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  44. 14: If you truly forgive people, you stop avoiding them when you see them. Non-Christian College Agree 61.4 ; Disagree18.1 Christian College Agree 53; Disagree17.5 Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  45. Discussion • Apology as necessary Clearly divided: 71% non-Christian vs. 16% Christian. • Guilty feelings A Christian college thing 73% vs. 55%. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  46. Discussion • Repentance (admit and change) Most believe this is not needed to forgive. But about one in three expect you to change. • Restoration Have they had enough? No need to restore a fallen leader to the same position. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  47. Discussion • God’s forgiveness as contingent Most believe you must forgive to get God’s forgiveness. • Trust Most believe you do not have to trust just because you forgive. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  48. Discussion • How many times should you forgive? Some disagreement on being too forgiving but a substantial minority believe it is possible to be too forgiving. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  49. Discussion Anger & Avoidance Two concepts that forgiveness researchers believe you need to reduce as evidence of forgiveness. Most of our participants agree. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

  50. Discussion Forgiveness and Reconciliation- our key focus Our results reflected beliefs similar to those identified by Kanz (2000). A majority of participants in both studies agreed that reconciliation is a necessary part of forgiveness. Allman & Sutton, 2008-2009

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