Journal

Summary

A study conducted by Reed and Enright (2006) displays the comparison between forgiveness therapy and alternative treatment approaches in situations of spousal emotional abuse. The study was conducted in a Midwestern town with 20 research participants all of whom were women who had experienced psychological abuse from their spouses. As psychological abuse can encompass a variety of variables, Reed and Enright (2006) use factors which were previously measured when trying to determine psychological spousal abuse. These included criticism, ridiculing of the other, intently ignoring the other, jealous control, giving threats of abandonment, or threats of harm to the other, as well as threats of harm to pets or property. The hypothesis proposed by the study stated that when comparing forgiveness therapy and alternative modes of treatment, individuals undergoing forgiveness therapy are more likely to show less symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and unfavorable psychological outcomes (Reed and Enright, 2006). During the time of the study the participants who were chosen had been separated from their partners for a duration which extended anywhere from 2 to 10 years. The age of the participants enrolled in the study ranged from 32 to 54 years which meant that each individual went through their own personal set of issues in their relationships. To control for these factors, the researchers made sure to set strict eligibility criterion which encompassed variables such as history of childhood abuse, psychosis, as well as the extent of current involvement with the abuser. During the study, the participants received either forgiveness therapy or alternative treatment once a week for approximately 7.95 months. The results of this study depicted an incredible outcome of undergoing forgiveness therapy. In one case study of a research participant enrolled in the study, forgiveness therapy helped the participant bring her scores of moderate depression...