Does Religious Motivation Influence the Conceptualization and Acceptability of Forgiveness as a Therapeutic Intervention?

Keywords

marriage and family therapy, religion, forgiveness, relationship reconciliation

Abstract

This study addresses a gap in the research related to understanding how religious motivation (both extrinsic and intrinsic) relates to attitudes towards forgiveness as a therapeutic intervention. Our findings provide evidence that intrinsic religious motivation was associated with acceptability of forgiveness framed as a spiritual issue and overall, while extrinsic-social religious motivation was not associated with acceptance of forgiveness intervention framed in any way. Extrinsic–personal religious motivation was associated with greater acceptability of forgiveness framed as a spiritual issue, but it was also related to the misconception of forgiveness as relationship reconciliation. Implications for MFTs are discussed.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2014-03-11

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7274

Publisher

The American Journal of Family Therapy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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