Forgiveness In Psychology

Ouch!

I just got the following:

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The relationship between forgiveness,
gratitude, distress, and well-being: An integrative review of the
literature.

Abstract
Research findings point consistently to the conclusion that forgiveness is
positively associated with well-being, quality of life, life satisfaction,
gratitude, optimism, hope, trust, self-worth and positive beliefs.
Forgiveness also affects and is negatively associated with emotional
distress and negative affective states such as depression, anger, vengeance,
anxiety, somatic symptoms, guilt and vulnerability. Gratitude, like
forgiveness, has been shown to have positive associations with well-being,
positive affect and emotions, happiness, trust, altruism, life satisfaction,
forgiveness, vitality, spirituality, optimism and positive beliefs.
Gratitude also has negative associations with emotional distress and
negative affective states such as hostility, anger, aggression, depression,
anxiety, stress and vulnerability. This integrative review of the literature
(with colored Diagrams) also pointed out that forgiveness and (to a
somewhat lesser extent) gratitude, are multidimensional constructs. The
research to date has, however, implied an underlying duality in the
constructs of forgiveness and gratitude and has usually been conducted
from a non-spiritual focus.
Moreover, the research is largely focused on correlations, leaving the
direction of causality somewhat unclear. This paper reviews the relevant
literature and discusses how a non-dualistic, spirituality oriented theory
and research guided by that theory would potentially contribute a great deal
to the field.

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Just read it and weep.

It is scary.

A "non dualistic, spirituality orientated theory"?

"Direction of causality unclear"?

Give me a break.

Alright.

Let's pull out the EmoTrance theory for a moment, which is related to
Energy Psychology in so far that we have an extra level in the energy
body dimensions, but goes a whole lot further, because it encompasses
all emotions and doesn't make a distinction between "good" and "bad"
emotions, thus removes the trauma only principles that unfortunately
underly all psychology still.

Let's start at the beginning.

"Forgiveness is associated with happiness".

Well, yeah. That's because "forgiveness" comes into being when the
energy system has been repaired and flows freely on that topic.

When the Even Flow has been re-established, ALL the so called "good"
emotions are present BY DESIGN.

Forgiveness is therefore not a thing, but in essence, the absence of a
thing - namely, the absence of pain.

It really is as simple as that.

Forgiveness and gratitude are not "multi-dimensional CONSTRUCTS".

They are the END RESULT of a system operating within capacity and within
its natural operating parameters (aka the Even Flow).

The direction of causality is clear.

The research has been done!

And the above is a CLASSIC example of when you are missing huge chunks
of reality, the theories you make as a result to explain said reality
become incredibly convoluted, and essentially useless.

It is really quite painful for me to read things as the above "abstract"
(call it cubist psychology?).

They've got as far as noticing that happy feelings and health go hand in
hand.

And that disturbances are linked with one another.

What puts the two together, which is firstly, the energy system, and
secondly, the understanding that the energy system works in a very
different way to conscious expectations, is missing and that's why none
of it makes any sense.

Let's hope that in 25 years from now, what we now know isn't just common
knowledge, but has been actively expanded upon so that those who seek or
need "forgiveness" get to actually experience it.

SFX

For a really simple explanation of how "forgiveness" works, see the
"Want to forgive - but you don't know How?" article here:

http://silviahartmann.com/emotrance-article-how-forgive.php

           
Received on Thu May 18 2006 - 02:13:17 BST