Forgiveness is a complex and powerful concept that plays a crucial role in our mental and emotional well-being. The Enright Model of Forgiveness, developed by psychologist Robert Enright, provides a structured framework for understanding and practising forgiveness.
Dr. Robert Enright is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a licensed psychologist, and the founding board member of the International Forgiveness Institute, Inc., who pioneered the social scientific study of forgiveness.
Enright proposes that forgiveness occurs when individuals who have been unfairly harmed can let go of their feelings of resentment and instead show compassion towards the person who harmed them. His approach emphasizes the transformation of emotions, thoughts, and actions towards those who have caused harm. The model suggests that forgiveness is a process where your reactions toward the person who hurt you gradually change.
The Enright Model of Forgiveness consists of four key phases:
- Uncovering Anger Phase: The first step in the forgiveness process is to acknowledge and understand the anger and resentment you feel towards the person who has wronged you. This involves exploring the impact of the offence on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. However, as the anger and other negative emotions are brought out into the open, healing can begin to occur.
- Decision to Forgive Phase: The next step is to make a conscious decision to forgive the person who has wronged you. This decision is not made lightly but is based on a desire to let go of negative emotions and move towards healing.
- Work on Forgiveness Phase: Forgiveness is a process that takes time and effort. It involves working through your feelings of anger and resentment and replacing them with compassion and understanding towards the offender. This may involve seeking support from others, practising empathy, and engaging in forgiveness exercises.
- Deepening Phase: The final step in the forgiveness process is to discover the meaning and purpose behind the offence and release the negative emotions associated with it. The emotional relief and newfound meaning may lead to increased compassion for self and others. This allows you to move forward with a sense of peace and closure.
The process of forgiveness, according to the Enright Model, is a journey towards healing and reconciliation. It involves acknowledging your pain, letting go of negative emotions, and ultimately finding peace and freedom from the past. This model of forgiveness aims to decrease negative feelings and increase positive feelings, behaviours, and thoughts towards those who have caused harm. By doing this, it seeks to bring relief and peace to the person who can forgive.
Blog By : DEEBHA SITHTA
