Expressive Disclosure Following an Interpersonal Conflict: Can Merely Writing About an Interpersonal Offense Motivate Forgiveness?
Author(s): Daniene F. Landry, K. Chris Rachal, Windy S. Rachal, Gary T. Rosenthal
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of writing as an essential component for expediting the forgiveness process. Forty undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either write about an interpersonal conflict or about trivial topics. Both groups underwent pretests and posttests measuring positive and negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Scale), forgiveness (Transgression Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory), and rumination (Impact of Events Scale). Both groups experienced significant increases in positive affect and decreases in negative affect and rumination. Only the group writing about an interpersonal conflict, however, reported significant improvements in the way they thought and felt about the topic. The results show that the effect of writing on forgiveness lends itself to further study.
Keywords: Forgiveness; Expressive writing; Emotional processing; Affective change; Interpersonal conflict; Experimental design
Article: e14002
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