"We did find evidence of psychological effects, like happiness, and mental-health-related things like depression. But we also found, in some cases, stronger associations for character and pro-social behavior outcomes like gratitude and an orientation to promote good. I thought that was interesting: Forgiveness is a pathway to building character and other aspects of one's volitional life."
"The survey was designed to evaluate levels of forgiveness as a practice and personal characteristic rather than a single discrete act, asking, 'How often have you forgiven someone?' This approach allowed researchers to examine the long-term effects of forgiveness on well-being."
A study involving over 200,000 participants from 22 countries found that regular forgiveness practices are linked to improved psychological well-being and character development. The research indicated that the impact of forgiveness varies by nation, with stronger associations found for pro-social behaviors like gratitude. The study, conducted by Harvard's Human Flourishing Program, utilized annual surveys to assess forgiveness and well-being over time, revealing that forgiveness can enhance happiness and reduce depression while promoting positive character traits.
Read at Harvard Gazette
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]