Forgiveness and Attachment: A Link That Survives the Grave?

The current project consists of two studies assessing the relationship between two attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance) and forgiveness in the context of bereavement. Using these two dimensions, the authors explore whether or not general attachment style and attachment to a deceased person in particular predict the degree to which one will forgive that individual. While most previous studies of extending forgiveness to living individuals suggest attachment anxiety is a more robust predictor of forgiveness, the current studies point to attachment avoidance as a more reliable predictor. The authors consider developmental and cultural factors in explaining the results and note implications for pastors and therapists. Over the past 20 years, psychologists have spent much effort discussing both forgiveness and attachment; occasionally, the links between the two have been explored as well. In the current project, we seek to expand our understanding of the correlation between these two variables, in particular among those who are bereaved. Despite the increased interest in forgiveness, psychologists have paid little attention to forgiving deceased individuals, even though those who have lost a loved one routinely report anger as part of their bereavement process (Maciejewski, Zhang, Block, & Prigerson, 2007). Anger has also been linked with unhealthy forms of grieving (Parkes, 2006; Prigerson et al., 2009). Considering the possibility that DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, anticipated publication date in May 2013) may include a new grief-related disorder (Prigerson et al., 2009), counselors and psychologists should be attending to specific predictors of adaption to loss and strategies to help those who may receive the new diagnosis. Given their links with mental health, attachment and forgiveness are probably among the variables that should be considered. In addition, because pastors are often involved in supporting bereaved, understanding which variables predict bereavement outcome can be useful for their service in the church. In short, the current studies provide evidence to answer the question of how various aspects of attachment correlate with various aspects of forgiveness when the offender is deceased. We now turn to defining the facets of these concepts and what research to date shows about their relationship. CONSTRICTS UNDER STUDY AND PRIOR RESEARCH Scholars of forgiveness have offered slightly differing definitions of the concept. In this project, we rely on work by Enright (e.g., Enright & Fitzgibbons, 2000; Knutson, Enright, & Garbers, 2008) to conceptualize this variable. From a psychological perspective, forgiveness is defined as rooting out negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors directed at an offender and developing positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors directed at the same (Subkoviak, Enright, Wu, Gassin, Frcedman, Olson, & Sarinopolous, 1995). It is not the same as pseudofor-giveness, or minimizing or outright denying the hurt. Enright (2001) is clear that forgiveness can be relevant even in cases where an offender is dead. Attachment is a physiologically-based bond that develops between two persons, at least one of whom who affords the other safety and affection. Originally discussed in the context of parent-infant relationships (Bowlby, 1969), research over the last 25 years has established that such bonds exist between adult romantic partners (Zeifman & Hazan, 2008), between friends (Wilkinson, 2010), and even between a believer and God (Granqvist & Kirk-patrick, 2008; Hall, Fujikawa, Halcrow, Hill, & Dclany, 2009). Recent conceptualizations, especially of adult attachment, define the concept in terms of two dimensions: anxiety and avoidance (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007). Anxiety refers to a person's expectation that relationships can be hurtful and to her concern about rejection and/or abandonment. Avoidance refers to a person's tendency to maintain emotional distance in relationships and rely mainly on the self for coping. …