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Self-Forgiveness, Addiction, and Recovery

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Abstract

Self-forgiveness is thought to play a meaningful role in the relationship between addiction and recovery. Scientific theories have been developed regarding the general nature of the forgiveness–health association and the forgiveness–addiction association and are supported by accumulating empirical evidence. However, scientific modeling regarding the explicit role of self-forgiveness in the process of addiction and recovery is much less developed. Based on the integration of a stress-and-coping model of self-forgiveness and health and a general model of the forgiveness–addiction association, we describe the development of a model addressing the self-condemnation–self-forgiveness–addiction/recovery association, including resentment and psychache as particularly relevant manifestations of self-condemnation. To this end, we provide an overview of the psychology of self-forgiveness as it pertains to addiction and recovery, ending with a discussion of clinical applications. In sum, the power of self-forgiveness to facilitate recovery from addiction may stem from its role as a uniquely effective coping mechanism to address the stressful effects of self-condemnation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA

    Jon R. Webb

  2. Department of Psychology, Luther College, Decorah, IA, USA

    Loren L. Toussaint

  3. Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA

    Jameson K. Hirsch

Authors
  1. Jon R. Webb
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  2. Loren L. Toussaint
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  3. Jameson K. Hirsch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon R. Webb .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Lydia Woodyatt

  2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Everett L. Worthington, Jr.

  3. School of Psychology, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Michael Wenzel

  4. San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA

    Brandon J. Griffin

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Webb, J.R., Toussaint, L.L., Hirsch, J.K. (2017). Self-Forgiveness, Addiction, and Recovery. In: Woodyatt, L., Worthington, Jr., E., Wenzel, M., Griffin, B. (eds) Handbook of the Psychology of Self-Forgiveness. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60573-9_19

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