Recovery from infidelity: Differentiation of self, trauma, forgiveness, and posttraumatic growth among couples in continuing relationships.

Abstract

Clinicians and researchers report that individuals can heal from the trauma of infidelity and that forgiveness and even personal growth are possible after infidelity takes place. However, research has not explored specific variables that should relate to these outcomes. We defined personal growth as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and examined the relationships of differentiation of self from family of origin, trauma, forgiveness, and PTG in a sample of individuals remaining in a relationship in which infidelity had occurred. Results showed that differentiation was positively related to forgiveness levels and also moderated the relationship between trauma and forgiveness. The only significant predictor of PTG, however, was forgiveness.

Translational Family Science and Forgiveness: A Healthy Symbiotic Relationship?

“…However, noting that participants in forgiveness interventions showed no improvement in their relationship with the perpetrator of the transgression, Lundhal et al () suggested that forgiveness interventions may “not be consistently better than no treatment in improving relationships” (p. 474). Besides confusing forgiveness with reconciliation, this conclusion counters clinical observations in which forgiveness emerges as critical for reconciliation after major relationship transgressions such as infidelity (see Baucom, Snyder, & Gordon, ), a viewpoint supported by survey data (Heintzelman, Murdock, Krycak, & Seay, ).…”

Posttraumatic Growth in Relationally Betrayed Women

“…Heintzelman, Murdock, Krycak, and Seay () studied 587 people who were still in relationships with their partner in which sexual infidelity had occurred at least 6 months prior. They examined interpersonal factors that impacted healing from relational betrayal such as: differentiation of self, trauma, forgiveness, and posttraumatic growth.…”

Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy for Trauma and Meaning Making Among Ethnically Diverse Individuals in the United States

“…Empirical support for the relationship between forgiveness and posttraumatic growth to date is largely supportive. Research suggests that forgiveness predicts posttraumatic growth in individuals who have experienced a range of significant interpersonal offenses (Heintzelman, Murdock, Krycak, & Seay, 2014;Schultz, Tallman, & Altmaier, 2010;Wusik, Smith, Jones, & Hughes, 2015). Experimental evidence shows that writing about the benefits of an interpersonal offense or benefits of forgiveness (i.e., identifying posttraumatic growth) causes increases in forgiveness (Crowley, 2014;McCullough, Root, & Cohen, 2006).…”