PSYC FPX 4110 assessment 3

Activity Summary

Forgiveness entails offering benevolence to those who harmed us, giving up control, and letting go of bad emotions related to an event. Cultivating forgiveness and mercy enhances productive interpersonal relationships, collaboration, satisfaction at work, morale for one’s self, problem-solving, flexibility, and productivity (VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports, 2021).

Forgiveness, a virtue of temperance and a character strength, helps to avoid excess and stay balanced. Without forgiveness, the person will linger on bad things and become entangled in consumption-related emotions (VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports, 2021).

The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) measures dispositional forgiveness, reflecting a general tendency to forgive (Thompson et al., 2021). My overall HFS score of 121 indicates a tendency to forgive oneself, others, and situations beyond one’s control (The Model and Definition of Forgiveness — HFS, 2021).

Developing forgiveness allows people to let go of negative emotions and develop compassion (VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports, 2021).

Relationship to Positive Psychology

The HFS assessment quantitatively measures everyday life-relevant character strengths, inspiring awareness and use of positive traits (Thompson et al., 2021). Forgiveness is associated with tolerance, happiness, contentment, confidence, negative thinking reduction, relaxation, positive social relationships, and prevention of illness (Toner et al., 2012).

Application to Social Issues

Forgiveness provides physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual rewards, easing anxiety and sadness (Worthington et al., 2007). Unforgiveness has the potential to result in depression, anxiety, and anger, and hence, highlighting the significance of forgiveness in individual wellness (Yalçın & Malkoç, 2014; Zechmeister & Romero, 2002).

PSYC FPX 4110 assessment 3 Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence Reflection Paper

Worthington, E., Witvliet, C., Pietrini, P., & Miller, A. (2007). Forgiveness, Health, and Well-Being: A Review of Evidence for Emotional Versus Decisional Forgiveness, Dispositional Forgivingness, and Reduced Unforgiveness. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine, 30(4), 291-302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-007-9105-8.

Yalçın, I., & Malkoç, A. (2014). Forgiveness and mental health: A preliminary examination of correlates of self-forgiveness among Turkish university students. Journal of Muslim Mental Health, 8(2), 5–18.

Zechmeister, J., & Romero, C. (2002). Victim and offender accounts of interpersonal conflict: Autobiographical narratives of forgiveness and unforgiveness. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 82(4), 675-686. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.4.675.