Robert Enright Ph.D.

About

Robert Enright, Ph.D., is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a licensed psychologist, and the founding board member of the International Forgiveness Institute, Inc. (internationalforgiveness.com), who pioneered the social scientific study of forgiveness. He is the author of over 120 publications, including seven books: Exploring Forgiveness, Helping Clients Forgive, Forgiveness Is a Choice, Rising Above the Storm Clouds (for children), The Forgiving Life, 8 Keys to Forgiveness, and Forgiveness Therapy. He and his colleagues have developed and tested a pathway to forgiveness, called Forgiveness Therapy, that has helped incest survivors, people in drug rehabilitation, hospice, shelters for abused women, and in cardiac units of hospitals, among others. Enright has developed Forgiveness Education programs for teachers in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Athens, Greece, Liberia, Africa, and Galilee, Israel.

For his research on forgiveness, he received the APF Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology in 2022, which the American Psychological Association calls psychology’s highest award.

Books by Robert Enright Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Grow Proficient in Forgiveness: Practice Small Acts of Love

Sometimes it seems impossible to forgive. This is common. You can prepare your heart for forgiveness by practicing service love toward others who have not hurt you.

Complete the Forgiveness Journey With the Forgiveness Triangle

Forgiveness can get complex. As we forgive, there is work to do as the one who offended can be open to seeking forgiveness. Then, together, the two can work on reconciliation.

Five Approaches for Conquering a Partner's Selfishness

Be encouraged if your partner frustrates you by showing selfishness. This is different from narcissism, which is more entrenched. Selfishness can changed by practicing generosity.

Is Forgiveness Against Our Human Nature?

If the essence of humanity is the survival of the fittest, then forgiveness might be a bad move. Yet, what if humanity is much more than one's position in the dominance hierarchy?

Is Forgiveness Incomplete If an Offender Rejects It?

Have you ever worked hard to forgive someone, only to be met with a blank stare or rejection? Take heart if this occurred, because you likely have done your best.

Emotional Healing From Peers During the "Old School Days"

We often consider our past to be over. Yet, when bullied in adolescence, we can develop a low self-image, lasting for years. Is it time for you to restore a positive self-image?

How Daughters Can Heal From Their "Mother Wound"

Without consistent nurturance from her mother, a daughter can grow to adulthood with discontent. Can a close other detect the pattern and assist in her healing?

4 Exercises for Cultivating the Mind of Forgiveness

When hurt by others, we have to resist the tendency to define that person by the unjust behaviors against us. Widening the lens through which we view this person can help us heal.

When You Should Forgive Yourself and When You Don't Need To

Self-forgiveness is both a controversial and a delicate matter. When is it good to forgive yourself? And when is it best to avoid doing this? We examine 5 points on the matter.

What You Might End up Learning About Humanity as You Forgive

As you examine what forgiveness is and practice it, you might begin to see that your current views of persons, including your perception of yourself, might change for the better.