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Roads less travelled to self-forgiveness: Can psychological flexibility overcome chronic guilt/shame to achieve genuine self-forgiveness? (Pages 203-211)

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)

Volume 21, July 2021, Pages 203-211

Authors

Jemima R. Bem, Peter Strelan, Michael Proeve

Abstract

Self-forgiveness theorising and research has advanced significantly, especially with respect to responding to human wrongdoing and failings. However, there are three emotional contexts, namely chronic guilt, blameworthy (moral) shame and blameless (non-moral) shame, where the path to self-forgiveness remains hindered or obscure. In this paper, we seek to answer the question: “Is there a way from non-moral shame and high levels of moral guilt/shame to genuine self-forgiveness?” We argue that psychological flexibility provides a unifying framework to explicate the self-forgiveness process, including the roles of problematic guilt/shame. In so doing, we provide a theoretical rationale for how it is possible for individuals with extreme moral guilt/shame and non-moral shame to genuinely forgive themselves.

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