October 2003
From Campaign for Forgiveness
New scientific study finds reconciling with offender not suggested for victims of child sexual abuse Not a healthy choice A ten-year study on the long-term impact of child sexual abuse found that reconciling with the offender might not be a healthy choice, especially when the mother and child are not close. Seeking forgiveness when the abuser is the biological father may be especially difficult. In cases of child sexual abuse, going beyond certain steps in the forgiveness process was shown to be detrimental in cases of child sexual abuse.Encouraging the survivor to reconcile the relationship with the perpetrator may place the survivor in a position for re-victimization, both physically and psychologically. The survivor should not feel pressure to have any empathy for the perpetrator. The study was conducted by Jeannie Noll, a researcher with the University of Southern California, School of Social Work, and The Catholic University of America, Dept. of Psychology, and will be presented at the Scientific Findings on Forgiveness Research Conference. Over 40 of the top scientists in the world who study forgiveness are reporting on their research at a conference in Atlanta October 24-25 at the Westin, Peachtree Plaza Hotel. The scientific presentations include the power of forgiving as it affects marriages, health, women, Blacks, religion, businesses, relationships, criminals and victims, substance abusers, and others. The first study to examine brain imaging when making judgments about forgiveness is also presented. See the website press room for a full listing of abstracts at www.forgiving.org. For complimentary registration information for journalists or to arrange interviews, please visit our website or contact Vicki Robb at 703-329-3356. Keynote speakers include Martin Luther King III, civil rights activist and head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Martin Seligman, past president of the American Psychological Association; and Les Parrott, relationship expert and author of Love the Life You Live. The conference is hosted by A Campaign for Forgiveness Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating research for personal health, maintaining relationships, peace among nations and biological connections with primates. The research is funded by grants from the John Templeton Foundation, the Fetzer Institute and donations to the Campaign from individuals and family foundations. The Campaign is directed by Everett L. Worthington, Jr. Professor and Chair of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and author of "Five Steps to Forgiveness" (Crown Publishers). Vicki Robb, 703-329-3356
Louisa Mattozzi, 703-476-0742
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