Research (Miller, Worthington, & McDaniel, 2008) has shown that women have higher levels of dispositional forgiveness than men. Studies (Exline & Zell, 2009; Toussaint & Webb, 2005) have also discovered that empathy predicts dispositional forgiveness differently in men compared to women. It is unclear why these sex differences exist. Therefore, four models were constructed, analyzed, and compared using structural equation modeling in order to determine whether gender role orientation moderates the relationship between empathy and dispositional forgiveness. Self-report data were collected from 502 undergraduate university students at a mid-sized, Midwestern, public university in the United States. The models examined did not fit the data well; possibly caused by the interaction between empathy and femininity within each model. However, significant findings emerged. Results showed that angry rumination negatively predicted dispositional forgiveness. Concerning gender role orientations, results showed that femininity positively predicted dispositional forgiveness, while masculinity did not significantly predict dispositional forgiveness. Contrary to expectations, empathy negatively predicted dispositional forgiveness. However, additional analyses clarified that empathy actually positively predicted dispositional forgiveness; a finding that was likely distorted by multicollinearity in the main models examined. Results revealed that femininity significantly moderated the empathy-dispositional forgiveness relationship. In this study, masculinity did not significantly moderate the relationship between empathy and dispositional forgiveness. This work concludes with a discussion of results in the context of McCullough’s theory of forgiveness (McCullough et al., 1998) and Gilligan’s (1994) theory of moral reasoning. Additionally, issues affecting the measurement of constructs and implications for research and practice are discussed. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

In this study the focus is on the pastoral guidance of the emotionally traumatized person. From the exegetic study it became clear that suffering forms part of every person's life and growth. In Ecclesiastes 7: 1-14 it is stressed that not only is prosperity given by God but that God also allows suffering. There with Romans 8: 18-25 stresses that which awaits the true believer in eternal life. It is given as motivation to persevere through the here and now of suffering. The Epistle of James (5:13-16) emphasizes in particular the communion of believers as a source of support. Psalm 13 encourages the believer to call upon God in his distress because God listens to his children's cries of distress. In the chapter dealing with Theological Basis Theory it became clear that emotional trauma normally happens where the person's own outlook on life was darkened by something that happened to him, which he was not prepared for. A pastoral approach to therapy is consequently based on the viewpoint that God is the Great Healer. In the process of pastoral counseling, attention must also be paid to any pending processes of mourning. Where the whole process of consultation eventually results in an attitude of servant hood in the counselee, it has truly been successful. It further became evident that various aids may creatively be used in process of guiding the counselee to wholeness -one of the most prominent of these is prayer that has to be continuously interwoven with the different counseling sessions. As far as the Meta-theory is concerned, the focus has been on contributions made by disciplines outside theology. It was pointed out that emotions, inter alia, can also become "sick" on occasion. This happens where a person does not allow himself to live through specific experiences of his emotions. A person, however, has control over the value he attaches to on emotion. Each person is unique and consequently the experiencing of his or her emotions will differ from person to person. Under normal circumstances a person experiencing intense emotions will allow them to flow freely from the body. Where this does not happen, such a person must receive professional help from somebody that can guide him towards healing. As part of the Meta-theoretical Section, there has also been focused empirically on the emotional trauma of a number of co-workers. It has been found, inter-alia that emotional pain that has not been dealt with, often leads to emotional trauma. It is also possible that emotional trauma may be disguised at times and may manifest itself by way of certain symptoms. Empirical research has again confirmed the important fact that the emotionally traumatized person must be guided to identify the deeper roots of the problem in order to activate the healing process. In the Practice-theoretical Section a number of practical guidelines stemming from the basic-theoretical and meta-theoretical perspectives have been formulated for the pastoral guidance of the emotionally traumatized person to emotional and spiritual healing. The importance of prayer as part of the pastoral therapeutically process again proved to be very prominent. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This study deals with the importance of the steps of grief and forgiveness in the recovery of the emotionally wounded person. The basis theoretical research clearly showed that God is the source of healing and forgiveness. The most important words for forgiveness in the Old Testament is salach, nasa and kaphar while aphiemi, apoluo and charizoma are the most important words for forgiveness in the New Testament. A special focus was consequently placed on these different words and the one overwhelming fact that repeatedly came to the fore was that, if a person has been granted forgiveness by God, he should also forgive his transgressor. The meta-theoretical research has clearly shown that both grief and forgiveness consist of a process that has to be worked through. Losses may be experienced as a result of traumatic events and when these losses affect a person negatively, they must be grieved over. Usually before a person has not completed his grief work, he can not move on to forgiving his offender. For the purpose of the empirical study, five cases of people who experienced trauma were selected and studied. The study highlighted the importance of considering the unique personal history of each individual, especially with reference to unresolved traumatic experiences in this person's past. From each of these case studies the importance of forgiveness came strong to the fore as a determining factor regarding the healing process of the emotionally wounded person. In the practical theoretical section a pastoral model is presented within which the different phases of the process of grief, as well as the process of forgiveness, are very prominent. The six phases of grief are I) shock and denial, 2) anger, 3) depression, 4) bargaining and wishful thinking, 5) sorrow, 6) forgiveness, resolution and acceptance. The process of forgiveness consists of three phases and nine steps. Phase one is the preparation for forgiveness and consists of the following four steps: 1) Forgiveness must be understood. 2) Recognize that forgiveness is necessary. 3) Identify the emotions involved. 4) Confront the hate. Phase two is really the core of forgiveness and consists of the following three steps: 5) bearing the pain, 6) setting boundaries to protect oneself, 7) releasing those who have wronged us. Phase three is oriented toward the possibility of starting over and consists of the following two steps: 8) assuming responsibility, 9) longing for reconciliation. This is a model that can affectively be applied in the pastoral guidance of persons who are struggling with unresolved grief, and consequently are not able to forgive. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-83). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1991. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-94).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Syracuse University, 2008. / "Publication number: AAT 3333586."

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed January 12, 2010). PDF text: xiii, 177 p. : ill. ; 866 K. UMI publication number: AAT 3359470. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1991. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-94).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1991. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-94).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-101). Also available in print.