Date of Award

8-1-2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Organizational Unit

Morgridge College of Education

First Advisor

Cynthia McRae, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Ruth Chao

Third Advisor

Daniel N. McIntosh

Fourth Advisor

Mohammad Matin

Keywords

Attitude, Forgiveness, Therapist

Abstract

Research supports the use of forgiveness in psychotherapy; however, little is known about how this process is integrated into treatment. Views on the utility of forgiveness appear to be mixed. Differences in conceptualization appear to exist between interventionists who promote its use and those who argue against it. This study explored the potential relationship between therapists' conceptualization of forgiveness, categorized as either agreeing with popular interventionists or not, and their predicted assistance of client forgiveness, as well as relationships between attitudes toward forgiveness and other potentially related variables Two hundred sixty nine participants recruited from practice-focused graduate training institutions completed a web-based survey. Results indicated there was no significant relationship between therapist conceptualizations and their belief that they will help clients forgive. More positive attitudes toward forgiveness and greater religious commitment were significant predictors of likelihood to assist clients forgive. Attitudes were significantly predicted by religious commitment and dispositional forgiveness, when controlling for likelihood to help clients forgive. Limitations, future directions, and results are discussed in the context of multicultural training, values, and therapeutic decision-making.

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Cameron F. Cannon

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

en

File Size

142 p.

Discipline

Counseling psychology, Clinical psychology

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