Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
A psychological and philosophical examination of models of forgiveness which include the topics of justice, reconciliation and the expression of forgiveness in stories.
Delivery
This course is available in a print-based format. Mail completed assignments to the GIS Office. We will forward them to the instructor for grading.
Prerequisites
UNI students: junior standing
Instructor
Suzanne Freedman, Associate Professor
Evaluation
11 assignments
Overview
The study of interpersonal forgiveness is a unique and exciting venture. The study of interpersonal forgiveness on college campuses is new, having emerged for the first time in the mid 1980s. Since that time, numerous self-help books, journal articles, masters theses and doctoral dissertations have focused on the topic.
When we use the words "interpersonal forgiveness" we are primarily referring to the gift an injured person gives to the one who hurt him or her. Interpersonal forgiveness does not focus on divine-to-human forgiveness emphasized in the monotheistic world religions. It does not include intrapersonal forgiveness, or the forgiveness of self. Our focus in this course will be on the one who has been hurt by another person.
We begin in Unit 1 with the issues of justice, not forgiveness because the quest for justice is a time-honored approach to resolving interpersonal conflict. This should serve as a counterpoint to the rest of the lessons on forgiveness. Unit 2 gives an overview of the two psychological models of forgiveness that we have developed over the years.
In Unit 3 you will examine the philosophical writings on forgiveness. Modern philosophy has had spirited discussions regarding the definition of forgiveness, whether forgiveness is a moral good or not, and related issues. Unit 4 introduces you to some of the popular books on forgiveness now available.
Units 5-8 describe the process model of forgiveness. Unit 9 is a discussion of clinicians' reports on interpersonal forgiveness, gleaned from case study experiences. We end with a focus on reconciliation (Unit 10) which can be an extension of forgiveness, and the expression of forgiveness in stories (Unit 11).
Assignments
For each lesson we provide between one and three questions for you to consider. You are to answer ONE questions per lesson that you will send to the Guided Independent Study Office for grading. Please limit yourself to approximately two to three typewritten pages. The objective is to get you to think and argue clearly.
Grading
A = 93-100% |
C = 73-76% |
Textbook(s)
A course packet containing all reading materials is available from the Guided Independent Study Office. No other textbooks are required.
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing and Distance Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
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