Global Forgiveness Movement
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The Global Forgiveness Movement at the Human Flourishing Program uses evidence-based interventions to make the world a more loving and forgiving place. |  |
Latest Forgiveness Research |
How common is forgiveness?
In this article, we use Global Flourishing Data to show how forgiveness varies across different countries and contexts.
What factors lead to forgiveness?
In this article we explore childhood factors that could lead to higher or lower levels of forgiveness in adulthood.
Is forgiveness good for us?
In this article we show that forgiveness plays a significant role in promoting flourishing across many dimensions of well-being, including mental and physical health.
Foundational Forgiveness Research
What is Forgiveness? | |
We define forgiveness as replacing ill will with goodwill to those who have wronged us: | |
 | This means desiring the flourishing of the offender, but without necessarily forgetting the harm. |
| Forgiveness is compatible with accountability, truth, and justice. |
| Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciling with the offender because some relationships should not be restored; some relationships are toxic and need boundaries. |
| Forgiveness requires a two-fold movement: 1) a decision to forgive, and 2) replacing negative emotions towards the offender with more positive emotions. |
Should We Forgive? | |
Our research shows that forgiveness is good for individual and communal health: | |
| Forgiving those who have harmed us leads to flourishing because it allows us to let go of negative feelings that can undermine our health and well-being. |
| Forgiveness lowers depression and anxiety. |
| Forgiveness can, over time, help free one from rumination and hurt. |
What is the REACH Model of Forgiveness? | |
Psychologist Everett Worthington’s REACH Forgiveness model is one of the most widely tested models of forgiveness, and is synthesized in Do-It-Yourself workbooks. REACH stands for: | |
 | Recall the interpersonal hurt and the emotions associated with it. |
 | Try to empathize with the offender. |
 | Explore the idea that forgiveness can be seen as an altruistic gift to the offender. |
 | Make a voluntary commitment to forgive. |
 | Seek to hold onto or maintain forgiveness through difficult times. The REACH Model has been synthesized into a 2-3 Do-it-Yourself Workbook:  |
Does the REACH Forgiveness Workbook Actually Promote Forgiveness and Well-being? | |
The Human Flourishing Program was involved in a randomized controlled trial of the REACH Forgiveness Workbook. The study showed that the workbook lowers depression, lowers anxiety, increases forgiveness, and increases flourishing.
Learn more:
Forgiveness Groups
A Forgiveness Group is six to twelve people who each do the REACH Forgiveness Workbook lessons in their own time, then meet to talk about them. Each meeting is guided by a short video, so you don't need to be a therapist or an expert to facilitate one.
Get Involved
Ways to be part of the Global Forgiveness Movement
Join our Forgiveness Community of Practice | |
| Meets on Zoom at 12pm ET the first Friday of every month starting September 4. |
| Learn about forgiveness research, forgiveness implementation best practices, and connect with others interested in spreading forgiveness. |
Apply to join our Fall Forgiveness Group | |
| Through Forgiveness Groups, participants work through Everett Worthington's evidence-based REACH Forgiveness Workbook on their own and then meet with a group to discuss the experience of working through the workbook. The group setting provides support, community, and accountability. |
| This group will meet 3 Tuesdays on Zoom over November 2026 (11/3, 11/10, and 11/17). |
| Each meeting will be online from 9am-10am ET and will require 1-2 hours of preparation work. |
Forgiveness Resources
References
Chen, Y., Harris, S. K., Worthington Jr, E. L., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2019). Religiously or spiritually-motivated forgiveness and subsequent health and well-being among young adults: An outcome-wide analysis. The journal of positive psychology, 14(5), 649-658, https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1519591
Ho, M.Y., Worthington, E.L., Cowden, R.G., Bechara, A.O., Chen, Z.J., Gunatirin, E.Y., et al. (2024). International REACH forgiveness intervention: a multisite randomised controlled trial. BMJ public health, 2(1), https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjph-2023-000072
Long, K. N., Worthington Jr, E. L., VanderWeele, T. J., & Chen, Y. (2020). Forgiveness of others and subsequent health and well-being in mid-life: a longitudinal study on female nurses. BMC psychology, 8(1), 104, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00470-w
Long, K. N., Chen, Y., Potts, M., Hanson, J., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Spiritually motivated self-forgiveness and divine forgiveness, and subsequent health and well-being among middle-aged female nurses: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1337, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01337
Contact Us
For inquiries about the Global Forgiveness Movement, please reach out to Kate Jackson-Meyer at kjacksonmeyer@fas.harvard.edu
