The Science of Forgiveness

What did psychologists find a substantial correlation between?

• Reduced stress, better heart health, lower anxiety, lower pain perception, and higher overall happiness

• Increased stress, worse heart health, higher anxiety, higher pain perception, and lower overall happiness

• No correlation between forgiveness and any health or happiness factors

• Only a correlation between forgiveness and reduced stress

What did the subjects do in the experiment?

• Closed their eyes and pictured someone they held a grudge against

• Wrote out their feelings and tried to forgive the person

• Shared their experiences with the researchers

• All of the above

What is forgiveness?

• Admitting you're wrong

• A sign of weakness

• Excusing or forgetting what happened

• Lowering psychological distress by getting rid of negative emotions

What did the experiment participants write about?

• The person they held a grudge against and the event that caused tension

• Their own feelings and thoughts about forgiveness

• Both A and B

• None of the above

What was the average increase in happiness observed in the subjects?

• 8%

• 28%

• 20%

• No increase in happiness

What does forgiveness require?

• Two people, a forgiver and a forgivee

• Reconciliation and communication with the person you forgive

• Only yourself

• A formal apology from the person you forgive

What does forgiveness mean?

• Excusing or forgetting what happened

• Lowering psychological distress by getting rid of negative emotions

• Reconciling with the person you forgive

• Both A and B

What is the purpose of forgiveness?

• To make the other person feel guilty

• To seek revenge on the person you forgive

• To lower your psychological distress

• To forget about the past

What did the subjects have to do in front of a mirror?

• Apologize to the person they held a grudge against

• Express their forgiveness to the person they held a grudge against

• Reflect on their own actions and emotions

• None of the above

What did the host, Julian, show the subjects?

• The door to forgiveness

• The benefits of holding grudges

• The importance of reconciliation

• The power of forgiveness