"The Effects of Forgiveness on the Physical & Psychological Development of Severely Traumatized Females"
Jennie Noll, Ph.D., professor of Social Work at the University of Southern California, will study how child sexual abuse affects someone physically and mentally with regard to forgiving or not forgiving the offender. She examines traumatized females who have been followed for over ten years in an ongoing longitudinal study. This study assesses how victims of trauma think and feel about perpetrators. Research References

"Secular & Spiritual Forgiveness Interventions for Recovering Alcoholics: A Patient-treatment Matching Study"
Kenneth Hart, Ph.D., at time of funding was a professor at the University of Leeds, England, but now is at the University of Windsor. He will study members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are angry, sad, or feeling hurt by someone. He will see which treatment helps these people forgive themselves and others, drink less alcohol, and feel less anxious and angry. This study tests two interventions-Enright's model and a spiritual model. It is proposed that both approaches to treatment will result in improvements, but that they will be demonstrated in different ways. The study seeks to identify which types of clients benefit most, from which type of treatment. Research References

"Forgiveness in Faith-based Groups"
Robert Wuthnow, Ph.D., a senior scholar at Princeton University, proposes to conduct a national survey of members of faith-based groups. He intends to determine effects of forgiveness (or lack of it) on efforts at reconciliation and attempts to cope with community violence through alcoholism, drug use, and the like. Research References

"The Causes & Effects of Forgiveness: A Twin Family Study"
Lindon Eaves, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University, will study whether religion and forgiveness protect someone against drug use, as well as whether genetics and psychological factors play a part in using drugs and not being forgiving. To help with this study, questionnaire studies will be mailed to adolescent twins and their parents, and adult twins with their spouses and children. Research References