Forgiveness as a secondary prevention strategy for victims of interpersonal crime.
OBJECTIVE
The number of violent crimes against people is increasing. The present paper aimed to review (i) the association between 'unforgiveness' among victims and psychiatric disease; and (ii) evidence that encouraging forgiveness can help to prevent psychiatric disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Unforgiveness correlates strongly with the development of psychiatric disease. Encouraging forgiving attitudes and emotions leads to decreased anxiety and depression.
Spiers
Alistair
A
University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. aspiers@gmp.usyd.edu.au
D001290:Attitude; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*