Forgiveness as a secondary prevention strategy for victims of interpersonal crime

Abstract

Objective: The number of violent crimes against people is increasing. The present paper aimed to review (i) the association between ‘unforgiveness’ among victims and psychiatric disease; and (ii) evidence that encouraging forgiveness can help to prevent psychiatric disease.

Conclusions: Unforgiveness correlates strongly with the development of psychiatric disease. Encouraging forgiving attitudes and emotions leads to decreased anxiety and depression.

• forgiveness
• psychiatric disease
• secondary prevention
• unforgiveness
• victim