Agency in Forgiveness

In episode 3, Agency in Forgiveness, Kristen Ruiz and Geneva Mayne talk about forgiveness with special guest, Dr. Kittie Verdolini Abbott. Forgiveness is a shift in motivation away from retaliation and avoidance towards increased goodwill for the perceived wrongdoer. It plays a vital role in restoring social relationships, and positively impacts personal wellbeing and society at large. As a protective factor, forgiveness promotes resilience for people going through adversity or hardship. The choice to forgive (even if you have to make it repeatedly or over a period of time) is an act of agency where you are freeing yourself from the bondage of anger, resentment and living in the past. There is agency in forgiveness. The Agentic Voice Podcast does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Our guests and speakers reflect a variety of viewpoints that do not necessarily represent the views of The Agentic Voice Podcast. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified professional expert and specialist. If you are having a health or mental health emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately. References Cleare S, Gumley A, O’Connor RC. (2019) Self-compassion, self-forgiveness, suicidal ideation, and self-harm: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 26(5):511-530. Fourie, M., Ruud, H., Decety, J. (2020) Parsing the components of forgiveness: Psychological and neural mechanisms, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 112, 437-451 Schaefer, L., Howell, K. H., Schwartz, L., Bottomley, J. S., & Crossnine, C. B. (2018). A concurrent examination of protective factors associated with resilience and posttraumatic growth following childhood victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 85, 17-27.