How do we Forgive? Forgiving and not forgiving in Friendships, Families, and Romantic Relationships

This event has ended.

‘I think peace of mind and forgiveness kind of go hand’ 

What’ on offer? 

This 1-hour seminar aims to illuminate the integral, but often unnoticed, role that forgiving (and not forgiving) plays in our personal relationships. Findings from an ongoing sociological research project will be used to highlight the multiple ways in which forgiveness becomes relevant to relationships: from the mundane maintenance of partnerships, and small-scale reconciliations in friendships and families, to recovery from the most challenging of circumstances, transgressions, and betrayals. It is hoped that this talk will engage participants with their own experiences of forgiveness, and get us thinking about how relationships can both thrive and suffer in relation to forgiveness. 

To illustrate the prevalence of forgiveness in our everyday lives, the event will begin with ‘Forgiveness Bingo’, asking questions such as: Have you ever forgiven a friend? Have you ever been told that you shouldn’t forgive someone? This is followed by a discussion about feelings and experiences of forgiveness, which is framed through examples from Owen Abbott’s research findings.  

Note on sensitivity 

This session involves discussions of forgiveness in personal relationships that are likely to be sensitive in nature. Participants will be welcomed to reflect on their own experiences if they are comfortable doing so, however, you do not have to do so if you do not want to. Discussions of people’s experiences must be respected, and listened and responded to thoughtfully. The event will be supported by OnePlusOne, a charity with over 50 years of experience supporting and strengthening people’s relationships. They will be on hand to provide support to participants should it be required. 

Who is leading the event? 

Owen Abbot, Research Associate in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University 

Penny Mansfield, Joint Lead Researcher at OnePlusOne 

Who is it open to? 

Part of the premise of the research is that virtually anyone will have had some experience of forgiveness in their relationships, so the event is open to anybody. 

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ESRC Festival of Social Science

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