A Murdoch University School of Law researcher says traditional theories of forgiveness don't work for
victims of serious crime.
Dr Courtney Field said interviews with victims of violent assault, sexual assault and child abuse as well as those who had loved ones murdered revealed the need for a new approach.
"Traditional models view forgiveness as a social process oriented towards reconciliation, but for the people I spoke with, reconciliation was very far off the radar, and in many cases not even feasible due to issues of safety," Dr Field said.
"These people tended to resent the prescriptive nature of traditional models, often comprised of steps that you follow to return to a positive place, and felt forgiveness was often pushed upon them.
"While they all moved towards forgiveness, it was personal – resolving the intense psychological weight of dealing with the event so they could survive – and had very little to do with the offender."
The on-going project, which is also looking at the complexities of revenge, has identified four stages of resolution for victims of violent crime: self-awareness, letting go, perspective-taking and moving on.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-01-victims-violent-crime-dont-mould.html
Abstract in the International Review of Victimology: Forgiveness is a present to yourself as well -- An intrapersonal model of forgiveness in victims of violent crime
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