Theoretical approaches to study forgiveness and life satisfaction in modern psychology

Aim. To organize theoretical approaches to study both phenomenon of forgiveness and its relation to life satisfaction (LS) in the context of modern international and domestic research; to analyze dominant research models and identify efficient directions for further scientific inquiry in this field.
Methodology. The analysis of 112 scientific works (2000–2023), including 24 Russian publications from eLIBRARY and CyberLeninka databases, 38 longitudinal and cross-cultural studies, and 15 meta-analyses forms the basis of this work. The following selection criteria were included: type of forgiveness model (process-based, REACH, motivational-transformational), empirical data on the forgiveness-LS link, validated methodologies (Diner’s Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, Hargrave-Zelzer Forgiveness Scale), and cultural context (38% of studies involved Russian samples). The following methods were applied: content analysis of 98 articles to identify key theoretical paradigms; meta-analysis of 128 studies (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3.0) with calculation of weighted average correlation coefficients (r); case studies of 14 clinical cases from the Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry using the “Dialogue with the Offender” technique.
Results. The close connection between forgiveness and LS was established (r = 0.35), which has different cultural specificity: in Russia, the correlation is stronger in familial contexts (r = 0.41), while Western studies emphasize personal growth (r = 0.38). Forgiveness training and emotional regulation improve LS by 12–27%, reducing rumination (40%) and cortisol levels (15%). In collectivist cultures, the forgiveness-wellbeing connection is stronger (27% higher) due to an emphasis on social harmony, whereas individualistic societies prioritize personal comfort. Russian models focus on collectivist values, while Western frameworks emphasize individual motivation. Religious contexts amplify this interdependence by integrating forgiveness into value systems. REACH-model training boosts LS by 15–20%, and incorporating forgiveness into depression therapy reduces relapses by 34%.
Research implications. This study makes it possible to integrate fragmented forgiveness models, proposing a multidimensional framework for its impact on LS via cognitive, emotional, and social mechanisms. The stereotype that forgiveness is a passive method has been refuted. Neuroimaging data confirms that it relies on conscious control (prefrontal cortex activation). Cultural specificity challenges the universality of Western models, highlighting the need to adapt interventions to ethnopsychological features. These findings are applied in psychotherapy (28% reduction in PTSD symptoms via forgiveness protocols), education (anti-bullying programs based on Enright’s models), family counseling (73% increase in marital satisfaction), burnout prevention, and corporate settings (31% fewer workplace conflicts with REACH-model trainings). Digital tools (e.g., apps for tracking forgiveness progress) and therapy integration are the efficient directions. Thus, the study transforms forgiveness from an abstract concept into a technology for enhancing life quality, bridging theoretical insights with practical solutions.

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