Forgiveness, memory, and emotions

Through my research, I aim to understand the relationship between memory, emotion, and forgiveness. Broadly speaking, forgiveness involves an emotional change from negative emotions toward less negative or even positive emotions, as well as a motivational change in responses toward the wrongdoer. Some authors suggest that these changes are tied to forgetting the offense. However, numerous examples challenge this notion, showing that people can remember wrongdoings while still releasing negative feelings such as anger and resentment. This is particularly evident in contexts of war, where severe wrongs have been committed: although victims remember these experiences, many are able to forgive those responsible.

My research adopts a cross-cultural approach, examining both a sample of victims of war in Montes de María, Colombia who have experienced severe wrongdoings (e.g., murder, kidnapping, torture, and massacres) and a community sample in the United States. I use a combination of in-depth interviews, physiological and behavioral assessments, and ethnographic methods to gather convergent evidence on how the emotional responses associated with memories of wrongdoing change over time.

This research is led by my advisor, Dr. Felipe de Brigard, and made possible thanks to an amazing group of collaborators who bring this work to life. A big thank you to Dr. Santiago Amaya, Dr. Pablo Abitbol, and Dr. Leonard Faul (among many others!) for being part of this journey.