Exploring a Forgiving Identity: Affordances of a Family Forgiveness Education Programme
Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
Publisher
American Educational Research Association
Location
Vancouver, Canada
Publication Date
4-13-2012
Abstract
Despite peace efforts in Northern Ireland, the country remains contentiously divided. In this paper, I investigate how a 14-week Forgiveness Education Programme (FEP) shapes the identity of parents, who taught the programme to their children, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Using a mix-methods approach and conceptual change theory (Posner, Strike, Hewson, & Gertzog, 1982) as a framework, I found that parents who used the programme to explore their personal belief systems demonstrated a higher-level of practicing forgiveness on the Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI). Additionally, the findings reveal that through teaching the FEP, parents are able to challenge and possibly change their own worldviews about how they see themselves and the ‘other.’ Other implications and significant contributions are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Litts, B. K. (2012, April). Exploring a Forgiving Identity: Affordances of a Family Forgiveness Education Programme. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting: Vancouver, Canada.
