Table Of ContentUnderstanding Forgiveness and Addiction
This book integrates and synthesizes numerous empirically supported positive psycho-
logical constructs and psychotherapeutic theories to help understand addiction and
facilitate recovery through the lens of forgiveness.
Proposing forgiveness as an alternative and critical tool to understanding the process of
addictionandrecovery,whetherinthecontextofsubstanceuse,compulsivebehavior,and/or
suicidal behavior, the book discusses multiple theoretical points of view regarding the pro-
cess of forgiveness. Additionally, foundational theories underlying the process of recovery,
the psychological and spiritual nature of forgiveness, and the nature of the association of
forgivenesswith health all receive detailed coverage. Considerable attention is also paid to
theextantempiricalsupportfortheassociationofforgivenesswithaddictionandrecovery.
The text’s comprehensive integration of theory, research, and clinical application,
including guidelines regarding forgiveness as a treatment for recovery from addiction,
provide a roadmap forward for addiction counselors and other recovery specialists.
Jon R. Webb, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, a tenured associate professor,
and the Addictive Disorders and Recovery Studies Program Director in the Depart-
ment of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences at Texas Tech University.
“In Understanding Forgiveness and Addiction: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applica-
tion, Jon Webb is masterful at taking a massive hodge-podge of research and molding it
intobotharesearcher’sandclinician’sdream.There’senoughdetailtofueltheoryandnew
research ideas for years. Yetthe writing isclear enough that clinicians can find evidence-
based interventions that they might not have been familiar with. And apply them with
clients. The title aptly captures the book's contents. Authoritative and usable. This book
willbereadandcitedforyears.”
Everett L. Worthington, Jr., PhD, Commonwealth professor emeritus, Virginia
Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
“Forgiveness is an area that holds great potential in addiction recovery. This volume
does an excellent job of bringing together the theory, research, and clinical relevance/
application into one place. Whether a student, academic, researcher, clinician, or
personstrugglingwithaddictiveand/orsuicidalbehavior,thisbookservesasthecom-
prehensive repository of authoritative information on all things related to the role of
forgiveness in healing from problems with addiction including in the context of sub-
stanceuse,compulsivebehaviors,andsuicidalbehavior.”
Harold G. Koenig, MD, professorof Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, associate
professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham,
North Carolina
“Forgiveness,aprinciplesharedbypositivepsychologyandspirituality,isapowerfuland
essential tool to address the relational and inner issues commonly experienced in the
struggleforaddictionrecovery.Inthisbook,Dr.Webbcompellinglyprovidesresearchers,
clinicians, and people struggling with addictions and related compulsive behaviors and
suicidalitywiththeoryintegration,scientificevidence,andclinicalapplicationtoprioritize
theinclusionofforgivenessintreatment.”
Lisa J. Miller, PhD, professor and founder, Spirituality Mind Body Institute,
Columbia University, New York, New York.
Understanding Forgiveness
and Addiction
Theory, Research, and Clinical Application
Jon R. Webb
Firstpublished2021
byRoutledge
52VanderbiltAvenue,NewYork,NY10017
andbyRoutledge
2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN
RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness
©2021Taylor&Francis
TherightofJonR.Webbtobeidentifiedasauthorofthisworkhasbeenassertedby
himinaccordancewithsections77and78oftheCopyright,DesignsandPatentsAct
1988.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedorutilisedin
anyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans,nowknownorhereafter
invented,includingphotocopyingandrecording,orinanyinformationstorageor
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Trademarknotice:Productorcorporatenamesmaybetrademarksorregistered
trademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationandexplanationwithoutintentto
infringe.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Webb,JonR.,author.
Title:Understandingforgivenessandaddiction::theory,research,andclinical
application/JonR.Webb.
Description:NewYork:Routledge,2021.|Includesbibliographicalreferencesand
index.|
Identifiers:LCCN2020048611(print)|LCCN2020048612(ebook)|
ISBN9780367190835(hardback)|ISBN9780367190842(paperback)|
ISBN9780429200274(ebook)
Subjects:LCSH:Forgiveness–Psychologicalaspects.|Substanceabuse.
Classification:LCCBF637.F67W372021(print)|LCCBF637.F67(ebook)|
DDC155.9/2–dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2020048611
LCebookrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2020048612
ISBN:978-0-367-19083-5(hbk)
ISBN:978-0-367-19084-2(pbk)
ISBN:978-0-429-20027-4(ebk)
TypesetinTimesNewRoman
byTaylor&FrancisBooks
To the person who helped me understand and know that I was worthwhile
and lovable – my mother. I love you and I miss you terribly.
Contents
List of illustrations viii
Acknowledgements ix
About the Author xi
1 Introduction: Identifying the Problem of Addiction and the Relevance of
Spirituality as a Solution 1
2 Theory: Addiction and Recovery 28
3 Theory: Definitions and Dimensions of Forgiveness 48
4 Theory: What is Forgiveness? 58
5 Theory: Forgiveness, Health, and Addiction 77
6 Research: Forgiveness and Addictive Behavior 91
7 Research: Forgiveness and Suicidal Behavior 105
8 Clinical Application: Models of Forgiveness Intervention 116
9 Clinical Application: Twelve-Step Model and Twelve-Step Facilitation 127
10 Clinical Application: Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change 144
11 Clinical Application: Cognitive-Behaviorism 159
12 Clinical Application: Other Modalities and Processes 174
13 Conclusions and Recommendations: Forgiveness is Important in the
Context of Addiction … Now What? 189
Index 212
Illustrations
Figures
4.1 The RiTE Model of Spirituality 62
5.1 TheForgiveness–Addiction–RecoveryAssociation:AConceptualModel 81
13.1 The RiTE Model of Spirituality 195
13.2 TheForgiveness–Addiction–RecoveryAssociation:AConceptualModel 196
Tables
1.1 Global Estimates of Death and Disability for the Year: 2016 3
1.2 United States Estimates of Death and Disability for the Year: 2016 4
1.3 Behavioral Addictions Related Estimates for the Year: 2016 – Part 1 6
1.4 Behavioral Addictions Related Estimates for the Year: 2016 – Part 2 7
1.5 Suicide Related Estimates for Six Countries for the Year: 2016 10
1.6 Spirituality Related Estimates – Part 1 12
1.7 Spirituality Related Estimates – Part 2 13
4.1 Outline of Similarities between Judeo-Christian and Positive
Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Principles – Part 1 64
4.2 Outline of Similarities between Judeo-Christian and Positive
Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Principles – Part 2 64
4.3 Outline of Similarities between Judeo-Christian and Positive
Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Principles – Part 3 65
4.4 Outline of Similarities between Judeo-Christian and Positive
Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Principles – Part 4 65
4.5 Example Resources for Incorporating Spirituality into Treatment 68
9.1 Forgiveness and the Twelve-Step Model 138
10.1 Forgiveness, Motivational Interviewing, and the Transtheoretical Model
of Intentional Behavior Change 155
11.1 Forgiveness and Cognitive-Behavioral Principles and Cognitive-
Behavioral based Coping Skills 170
Acknowledgements
IwanttoexpressmysincerethankfulnessandappreciationtoRoutledgefortheopportu-
nity to publish this book and to the people who have assisted me and shepherded the
process to its completion – and for your patience with me – including, Amanda Devine,
Clare Ashworth, Grace McDonnell, Victoria Day, Reanna Young,and anyotherswork-
ingbehindthescenestopreparethismanuscriptforpublication.Formostofmyadultlife,
Ihavedreamedofwritingbooks.LittledidIknowwhatkindofanundertakingitis.Even
after having written and publishedmany scientificjournalarticlesand edited-book chap-
ters, the experience of writing abook has been quite abit different for me. Again, thank
youtothoseresponsibleforagreeingthatthisbookideawasworthwhileandforputtingall
thepiecestogetherandmakingthisdreamcometrueforme.
I also want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to particular people in
my life who have helped make something like this possible for me. Going all the way
back to High School, during my somewhat wayward teen years, one of my teachers,
George Baljevich, took me under his wing and provided me shelter from the storm, so
to speak. Also, during this time, I found myself sitting across from a psychologist,
Robert B. Field, Ph.D. I can recall thinking about what was going on between us and
wondering how effective it was and yet, also admiring him for what he was trying to
do. I believe he was my first inspiration for wanting to be a psychologist.
As an undergraduate and graduate student, I had instructors and professors,
particularly I. Reed Payne, Ph.D., and Edward P. Shafranske, Ph.D., who sparked
in me the desire to pursue academia and persist in otherwise unpopular topics in
psychology (i.e., issues related to spirituality) by showing me that it could be done.
Although much remains to be done, things have improved quite a bit over the years,
thankstotheirworkinhelpingpushitforward.Mydoctoralmentor,SeymourL.Zelen,
Ph.D.,wasexactlytherightpersonattherighttimeforme.Hewaspivotalininspiringme
to pursue my developing dream of having an academic, research-based career. What a
mind,Icouldsitandlistentoandlearnfromhimforever!
Particular pre- and post-doctoral clinical supervisors, John Irby, LMFT, Stevan Lars
Nielsen, Ph.D., and Spencer Schein, Ph.D., taught me that I had something unique to
offer.Post-doctoral research mentors and trainers, Denise G. Tate, Ph.D., Elizabeth, A.
R. Robinson, Ph.D., Kirk J. Brower, MD, and Robert A. Zucker, Ph.D., took a chance
on me as an inexperienced, rough-around-the-edges idealist with a fairly vague idea
about forgiveness being associated with health and addiction recovery. And, shared
with me their expertise, and encouraged me both directly and through their passion for
excellence to likewise pursue my academic, research, and professional interests. Con-
sistently throughout my career, Loren L. Toussaint, Ph.D., and Everett L. Worthing-
ton, Jr., Ph.D., have each had a profound and inspiring effect on me in my pursuit of
the psychology of forgiveness – and also more broadly in my pursuit of the science of
