Models of Interpersonal Forgiveness and Their Applications to Counseling: Review and Critique

Models of interpersonal forgiveness and their applications to counseling were reviewed. Although many models of the psychology of forgiveness exist, their impact on empirical research and practice has been minimal. The authors evaluate the current state of model building concerning interpersonal forgiveness and offer suggestions for directing future conceptual work.     

Till death do us part: Terror management and forgiveness in close relationships

Two experiments extended terror management theory to investigate forgiveness in close relationships. We hypothesized that mortality salience would elicit less forgiveness in less committed relationships. In Experiment 1, participants were primed with either mortality salience or a physical pain control condition, recalled a recent hurtful interpersonal offense, and reported their degree of forgiveness. Mortality salience evoked less forgiveness in less committed relationships. In Experiment 2, participants were assigned to recall an offense that occurred in a low‐commitment or high‐commitment relationship. Again, mortality salience elicited less forgiveness in less committed relationships; it elicited more forgiveness in more committed relationships. Moreover, this interaction was mediated by empathy. Existential considerations may play an important role in the functioning of close relationships.     

A Component Analysis of Marriage Enrichment: Information and Treatment Modality

Two primary components were identified in marriage enrichment programs: information about marital life (or none) and discussion among married couples (or none). Student couples (N = 36) volunteered for a marriage enrichment program and were assigned to one of four conditions: (1) assessment only, (2) information only (received by couples), (3) an unstructured discussion group, and (4) a structured group with both information and group discussion. Information had little apparent effect on couples, but discussion in groups improved couples' marriage satisfaction and their sexual and intellectual intimacy throughout the study relative to couples not receiving group discussion. Improvement was thought to be due to the group discussion heightening couples' attention to how they use their time as a couple.     

The Field of Marital and Family Therapy

This article defines the emergence of marital and family therapy as a distinct clinical discipline and an area of clinical practice. Significant historical developments that shaped the field and the integrative aspects of family systems theory are described. The role of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in professional credentialing and state and federal advocacy is reviewed, along with the contributions of the Commission on Accreditation for Marital and Family Therapy Education. These areas of development set the stage for recommendations for further interdisciplinary collaboration among the mental health disciplines.