Forgiveness and Health: Scientific Evidence and Theories Relating Forgiveness to Better Health

This volume collects state-of-the-art research on forgiveness and mental and physical health and well-being. It focuses specifically on connections between forgiveness and its health and well-being benefits. Forgiveness has been examined from various perspectives, including moral, ethical, and philosophical. Ways to become more forgiving and evolutionary theories of revenge and forgiveness have also been investigated and proposed. However, little attention has been paid to the benefits of forgiveness.

This volume examines the theory, methods, and research utilized to understand these connections. It considers trait and state forgiveness, emotional and decisional forgiveness, and interventions to promote forgiveness, all with an eye toward the positive effects of forgiveness on a victim’s health and well-being. Finally, this volume considers essential moderators such as gender, race, and age and explanatory mechanisms that might mediate links between forgiveness and critical outcomes.