Abstract

PRIETO-URSUA, María. On the possibility of forgiveness in child sexual abuse. Pap. Psicol. [online]. 2023, vol.44, n.1, pp.28-35.  Epub Sep 25, 2023. ISSN 1886-1415.  https://dx.doi.org/10.23923/pap.psicol.3008.

Whether or not it is appropriate to offer victims the possibility of working on forgiveness to overcome the pain of the lived experience and its consequences is a controversial issue. The pressure to forgive makes revictimization more likely and transmits guilt and a message of minimizing the victims' pain. A misunderstanding of forgiveness can further weaken the victim's ability to protect him- or herself, make him or her more vulnerable, and make it easier for the abuse to continue. This paper aims to review the conditions for forgiveness to be a psychological tool for the mental health of the victims. Forgiveness is a complex concept with multiple dimensions and possibilities, and it can offer victims a valuable resource for overcoming their pain. However, it is not essential to the victim's healing process.

Keywords : Forgiveness; Child sexual abuse; Reconciliation.

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