Forgiveness

=== Contrary evidence ===
There is, however, conflicting evidence on the effectiveness of forgiveness interventions, and some researchers have taken a critical approach to the forgiveness intervention approach to therapy.<ref name="Understanding concerns" />

Critics argued that forgiveness interventions may actually cause an increase in negative affect because they try to inhibit the person's feelings towards the offender. This can result in the person feeling negatively towards themself.<ref name="Understanding concerns" /> This approach implies that the negative emotions the person is feeling are unacceptable and feelings of forgiveness are correct and acceptable. This might inadvertently promote feelings of shame and contrition in the person.<ref name="Understanding concerns" />

Wanda Malcolm, a registered psychologist, states: "it is not a good idea to make forgiveness an a-priori goal of therapy".<ref name="Wanda" /> [[Steven Stosny]] asserts that you must heal first then forgive ({{em|not}} forgive then heal);<ref name="Stosny" /> that fully acknowledging the grievance (both what actions were harmful, and naming the emotions the victim felt as a response to the offender's actions) is an essential first step, before forgiveness can occur.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Luskin |first1=Fred |title=Forgive For Good |date=January 21, 2013 |publisher=HarperOne |isbn=978-0062517210 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/forgiveforgoodpr00lusk }}</ref>

Some researchers worry that forgiveness interventions promote unhealthy relationships.<ref name="Understanding concerns" /><ref name="Stover 2005">{{cite journal|last1=Stover|first1=C.S.|title=Domestic Violence Research: What Have We Learned and Where Do We Go From Here?|journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence|date=1 April 2005|volume=20|issue=4|pages=448–454|doi=10.1177/0886260504267755|pmid=15722500|s2cid=22219265}}</ref> They worry that individuals with toxic relationships will continue to forgive those who continuously commit wrong acts towards them, when in fact they should be distancing themselves from those sorts of people.<ref name="Understanding concerns" /><ref name="Stover 2005" />

A number of studies showcase high effectiveness rates of forgiveness interventions when done continuously over a long period of time.<ref name="Understanding concerns" /> But some researchers have found these interventions ineffective when done over short spans of time.<ref name="Understanding concerns" />