Forgiveness has been deeply valued in religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions for centuries. As such, it has been considered crucial as a courageous response to injustice and moral wrongdoing in personal, family, and community relationships.

Yet, in practical terms, one might still ask: What is forgiveness? How do I go about forgiving? How will I change for the better when I forgive? Within the last two decades, developmental psychologists at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have been researching these very questions.

This research has produced a working definition of forgiveness and process of forgiving that forms a basis for both personal growth and psychological healing. The University of Wisconsin research has shown with many different groups (domestic abuse, divorce, incest, drug and alcohol abuse, parental neglect, school bullying, and other painful relationships) that as people learn more about forgiveness and practice forgiving, they experience psychological benefits such as decreased anger, anxiety, & depression, as well as increased hope, self-esteem, & identity development (what kind of person do I want to become?).