Self-Forgiveness: Attending to Shame and Guilt Through Psychological Flexibility

Abstract

Research has shown that self-forgiveness – a process that tempers psychological distress while also promoting greater self-acceptance – is one way in which individuals can cope with the distress associated with a moral wrongdoing or transgression. With growing interest in the area, this literature review will summarise and evaluate the current research on selfforgiveness. In particular, it will cover the conceptualisation and measurement of selfforgiveness, and explore significant predictors of self-forgiving responses. The process of self-forgiveness has also been found to be effective in promoting positive psychological and relational outcomes. Accordingly, the research on the therapeutic and clinical applications of self-forgiveness will be reviewed. Lastly, the paper will summarise the limitations of the current literature and explore future directions for research on self-forgiveness.