Forgiveness Education with Parentally Love‐deprived Late Adolescents

Abstract

Two studies with male and female college students (n = 48 in study 1, n = 45 in study 2), who judged themselves to be parentally love‐deprived, engaged in a randomised, experimental and control group design focused on forgiving the parent(s). Study 1 was a 4‐day workshop centring on a commitment to forgive. Study 2 was a 6‐day workshop that included more of the therapeutic regimen from the Enright and the Human Development Study Group (1991) forgiveness model. Study 1 showed only modest effects. The experimental group gained more in hope and in one aspect of forgiveness relative to the control group. Study 2, a more complete programme than the first, showed more broadbased results. Relative to the control group, the experimental group was significantly lower in anxiety and higher in forgiveness, positive attitudes toward the parents, hope and self‐esteem. Implications for forgiveness education are drawn.