Forgiveness science pioneer, Robert Enright, discusses the science and benefits of forgiveness, including its impact on mental and physical health. He explores the process of forgiveness and the importance of self-empowerment. Enright also highlights the measurement and development of forgiveness, as well as the effects of kindness and empathy on forgiveness.
Forgiveness can have psychological benefits, reducing anger, anxiety, and depression.
Forgiveness can impact the brain, leading to changes in cognitive functioning.
Deep dives
The Power of Forgiveness: A Personal Journey
Everett Worthington, a forgiveness researcher, shares his personal experience of forgiveness after his mother was murdered. Despite his grief, he made the decision to forgive the killer just 24 hours after her death. This experience solidified his belief in the transformative power of forgiveness and led him to dedicate his life to promoting forgiveness.
The Science of Forgiveness
Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the science of forgiveness with Professor Robert Enright, a psychologist who has been studying forgiveness for nearly four decades. Forgiveness has been shown to have psychological benefits, reducing anger, anxiety, and depression. It can also improve physical health, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and reduce stress-induced inflammation.
The Enright Model of Forgiveness
Professor Enright developed the Enright Model of Forgiveness, which outlines the steps to cultivate forgiveness. The process includes understanding the effects of trauma, making a decision to forgive, doing the work of forgiveness, discovering new meaning and purpose, and ultimately achieving healing and self-growth.
The Benefits of Forgiveness
Forgiveness has profound benefits for both mental and physical health. It can lower anxiety, anger, and depression, improve decision-making, and promote positive interactions. Forgiveness can also impact the brain, with studies suggesting that it may lead to changes in the prefrontal cortex and gray matter density, improving overall cognitive functioning.
During the holiday season, we’re often encouraged to make amends and forgive people, but what does it take to really forgive someone? And what happens to your brain and body when you do... or don’t? In this episode, Sanjay talks with forgiveness science pioneer, Robert Enright. He’s been studying and writing about forgiveness for decades at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he says forgiveness is a choice, and that your ability to do it can be strengthened like a muscle. Enright walks us through a range of scenarios, from forgiving small things like being late for a meeting to larger ones, like forgiving someone who’s engaged in violence.