Showing papers by "Everett L. Worthington published in 2019"

Embarrassment of riches in the measurement of humility: A critical review of 22 measures

Abstract: Less than ten years ago, humility science seemed stuck with intractable measurement problems. Due to theoretical innovations, measures have proliferated in recent years. Humility science now faces ...

Religiously or spiritually-motivated forgiveness and subsequent health and well-being among young adults: An outcome-wide analysis

Abstract: This study performs an outcome-wide analysis to prospectively examine the associations of forgiveness (including forgiveness of others, self-forgiveness and divine forgiveness) with a range...

Measuring gratitude at work

Abstract: The role of gratitude in the workplace is understudied, despite its potential for promoting well-being and achievement in organizational contexts. We developed and evaluated a measure of workplace-...

Intrapersonal and interpersonal facilitators of forgiveness following spousal infidelity: A stress and coping perspective.

Abstract: Objective Forgiveness includes processes that involve a decision to stop bitterness and thoughts of revenge (i.e., decisional forgiveness), which further motivates the forgiver towards the restoration of positive emotions (i.e., emotional forgiveness). Using stress and coping framework, this study investigated intrapersonal and interpersonal facilitators of decisional and emotional forgiveness in a Chinese marital context. Method Participants were 154 respondents who had experienced or were experiencing spousal infidelity. Results Solidarity-oriented personality and perceived partner's reconciliation motivation facilitated benign attributions and empathy, then facilitated higher levels of decisional forgiveness, which promoted emotional forgiveness. Strength of marital bond before the infidelity directly predicted higher levels of emotional forgiveness. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence for the differentiated decisional and emotional forgiveness processes after spousal infidelity and delineate different coping mechanism that triggers them, thus lending culturally appropriate evidence for clinicians who work with clients facing spousal infidelity.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a community-based forgiveness campaign

Abstract: Forgiveness interventions have been employed in individual, couple, family, and group psychotherapy. Few attempts have been made to deliver forgiveness interventions via community-based campaigns. ...

Development of the Collectivist-Sensitive Trait Forgivingness Scale.

Abstract: Mounting evidence suggests that experiences of forgiveness vary across cultures. However, culturally sensitive conceptualizations of forgiveness lack empirical support, in part because psychometrically sound instruments designed to capture unique aspects of forgiveness in non-Western cultures are rare. For this reason, we developed the Collectivist-Sensitive Trait Forgivingness Scale (TFS-CS), which is designed to measure trait forgivingness within societies characterized by a blend of individualistic and collectivistic worldviews. In Study 1 (N = 597), exploratory factor analysis revealed a 16-item three-factor structure of third-party forgiveness, collectivistic forgiveness, and interpersonal resentment among South Africans. In Study 2 (N = 897), the three-factor model replicated in an independent South African sample. Findings also offered preliminary evidence supporting the construct validity of the TFS-CS. Overall, these studies support a conceptualization of trait forgivingness with similarities and differences relative to Western models and highlight the importance of appreciating the influence of culture when measuring forgiveness.

Forgiveness and Physical Health

Abstract: We summarize 55 studies examining forgiveness and physical health published between 2000 and 2018. Studies must have used measures both of forgiveness and physical health. Studies were excluded if they contained: (a) experimental manipulations or interventions that combined forgiveness with other constructs (e.g., gratitude, mindfulness); and (b) health-related outcomes focused exclusively on mental health, happiness, suicide, global non-health-related quality of life (see Chapter 18), physiological parameters or biomarkers (see Chapter 16), or combined mental and physical health composites. Participants were: college students, community members, and individuals with illnesses and diseases. Community samples included: (a) sedentary young adults, (b) middle-aged male prisoners, (c) Iraqi refugees, and (d) members of five different religions. Individuals with the following illnesses and diseases were included: (a) fibromyalgia, (b) spinal cord injury, (c) chronic heart failure, (d) traumatic brain injury, (e) stroke, (f) chronic pain, (g) HIV, (h) arthritis, (i) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (j) diabetes, and (k) posttraumatic stress disorder. Of the 55 studies, 40 (73%) showed a salutary connection between forgiveness and physical health, and this connection was robust across measurement, sample, and design. Emerging results are consistent and promising for understanding how forgiveness might contribute to good physical health.

Forgiveness Research in Africa : The Present Status and Future Prospects

Abstract: Legacies of slavery and colonialism on the African continent have contributed to conflicts that persist into modern times. Forgiveness has been hypothesized to prevent new conflicts, promote reconciliation, and foster peace. We conducted a review of the research on forgiveness in Africa between 1996 and 2018 (N = 99 articles; 33,810 participants). The review focused mostly on empirical quantitative research, and accounted for the geographical region of the authors and the sample (in quantitative research), study conceptualization and methodology, major empirical findings, and prospects for future research. Our review reveals differences in the conceptualization and application of forgiveness between African and non-African nations as well as within the nations of Africa. The role of collectivism, the principle of Ubuntu, and enemyship are highlighted in understanding forgiveness within an African context. We suggest that an African forgiveness research campaign is needed. Such a campaign would help peacemakers understand culturally mediated definitions and expressions of forgiveness, culturally appropriate ways to promote forgiveness, and potential contributions of forgiveness to African peacemaking efforts.

A new perspective on forgiveness research.

Abstract: After reading these 32 chapters on forgiveness research, we take stock of changes that have occurred within the subfield of forgiveness studies from 2004 (when the first edition of the Handbook was compiled) up to 2019. We noted big trends in defining forgiveness (consensus has diminished since the first edition), calling for research attention to processes regarding the offender and victim’s interaction, assessing forgiveness (measures have proliferated, and have been translated into many languages, with psychometric evidence supplied), understanding forgiveness (theoretical perspectives have been put forward), seeking to describe how forgiveness of others, forgiveness of self, forgiveness by God, and societal forgiveness are interrelated, and promoting forgiveness (much more is known about the nuances of helping people forgive). Perhaps the biggest new development is the overwhelming attention that has been lavished on cultural elements of forgiveness. Some fields have grown virally, such as forgiveness and health, while others have either experienced modest growth (forgiveness in relationships and in organizations) or failed to coalesce (the development of forgiveness in children). We describe what we believe to be a good research agenda for the field over the next 10 years or so.

Overcoming failure in sport: A self-forgiveness framework

Abstract: Within the winner or loser dichotomy that exemplifies competitive sport, athletic success hinges on the ability to overcome and respond constructively to failure. This article introduces self-forgiveness as an adaptive, purposeful approach to coping with competitive sport performance failure in a way that stimulates personal growth and combats loss of motivation. In contrast to defensive responses that shield self-integrity, genuine self-forgiveness is reached through a process in which athletes (a) accept personal responsibility for their role in the unsuccessful performance outcome and (b) restore self-regard by affirming the self. Although athletes expose themselves to uncomfortable emotional experiences associated with failure, self-forgiveness is proposed as a process that enables athletes to objectively evaluate unsuccessful performances, identify areas warranting improvement, and develop adaptive psychological recovery responses to failure.

Do congruent apologies facilitate forgiveness

Abstract: Research largely supports the apology–forgiveness cycle, a process in which perpetrators’ post-transgression apologies are reciprocated with victims’ forgiveness. This cycle is often facilitated by...

A Relational Humility Framework: Perceptions of Humility in Relational Contexts

Abstract: In this chapter, we describe a relational humility model that examines how perceptions of humility impact relationships, and we review research that supports the model. First, we describe the development of a relational humility framework in the field of psychology that addressed many conceptual and methodological issues in studying humility. Second, we describe two key hypotheses that have organized research on relational humility: (a) the social bonds hypothesis and (b) the social oil hypothesis. Third, we review research on relational humility in three key relational contexts: (a) social and romantic relationships, (b) cultural differences, and (c) business contexts. Finally, we discuss limitations in our proposed relational humility model, present areas for future research, and discuss practical applications of relational humility.

Forgiveness moderates relations between psychological abuse and indicators of psychological distress among women in romantic relationships

Abstract: Volume 115| Number 11/12 November/December 2019 Research Article https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/6353 © 2019. The Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence. Forgiveness moderates relations between psychological abuse and indicators of psychological distress among women in romantic relationships AUTHORS: Richard G. Cowden1,2 Everett L. Worthington, Jr.3 Brandon J. Griffin4 Rachel C. Garthe5

Creating and Disseminating Positive Psychology Interventions That Endure: Lessons from the Past, Gazing Toward the Future

Abstract: This chapter reviews the history of development of several positive psychology interventions. I use forgiveness interventions, and specifically the REACH Forgiveness intervention, as a case study. REACH Forgiveness is described in two main formats—a psychoeducational group intervention not targeted at specific events and a general do-it-yourself workbook—and also the ways it is embedded within four other interventions. These include the Hope-focused Approach (HFA) to couple enrichment and therapy; Forgiveness and Reconciliation through Experiencing Empathy (FREE) for couples; the Dual Process model of self-forgiveness; and community-based forgiveness awareness-raising campaigns, especially within close, Christian communities. I draw on personal experience at developing positive-psychology-related interventions. Lessons are extracted regarding the creation of positive psychology interventions. Speculations are offered regarding the future of positive psychology-related interventions. These modifications in intervention practice will likely involve changes in the way interventions have been developed and marketed. Online interventions and do-it-yourself workbook interventions are specifically considered regarding forgiveness. Electronic interventions have high promise, but designing them to minimize attrition can be vexing. Speculation is offered on the reasons for attrition and ways to minimize attrition in future web-based interventions. Online interventions are available to attract people of all cultures and ethnic identities, but on the other hand, they can be tailored to only a limited number of cultures at any time. This multicultural mismatch between users and interventions must be addressed. Suggestions about how to do this are offered. General guidelines for the development of interventions in positive psychology are presented.

How do humility prototypes affect the association between perceptions of spouse’s humility and depressive symptoms and couple conflict?

Abstract: Relational humility (RH) is associated with positive outcomes (e.g., fewer depressive symptoms; less couple conflict). Traditional conceptualizations of RH rely on other-report measures, bu...