Presents
The Physiology
of Forgiveness
Can You Afford to
be Unforgiving?
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Brain References
Health and Forgiveness
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
There’s something called the
‘physiology of forgiveness’  
being unable to forgive other
people’s faults is harmful to
one’s health
—Herbert Benson MD
Forgiveness is Scriptural
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Forgive and you will be forgiven
—Luke 6:37
Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you.
—Colossians 3:13
Forgive us our debts as we also have
forgiven our debtors
—Matthew 6:12
If you do not forgive (others) their sins,
yours will not be forgiven —Matthew 6: 15
Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
 Denying the other person’s
responsibility for the wrong
 Condoning bad behavior: minimizing,
justifying, or excusing the injury / wrong
 Waiving right to justice / compensation
 Choosing to reconcile or remaining in an
abusive relationship / environment
If a Crime Is Involved
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Forgiveness has NOTHING
to do with absolving a
criminal of his/her crime . . .
It has EVERYTHING to do with
relieving oneself of the burden
of being a victim—letting go of the pain
and transforming oneself from victim to
survivor.
C. R. Strahan
What Forgiveness Is
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
You give up your right to
exact retribution from the
individual who hurt or
wronged you

You choose to think about something
else rather than harboring resentment

You refrain from repeatedly bringing up
the incident to yourself and/or others
Forgiveness is About YOU
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Studies have shown clearly:
1. The one who is unforgiving
suffers the most
2. The one to be forgiven does not need
to know or even still be alive
3. Forgiveness benefits the forgiver
(you) the most
Forgiveness Type Confusion
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Some confuse human forgiveness with
Diety forgiveness ― perhaps because
many religions emphasize how completely
God forgives
Humans cannot forgive at that
level but they can forgive
Human forgiveness is far less about
“others” and far more about “you”
How God Forgives
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Praise the Lord . . . who forgives all your
sins and heals all your diseases
―King David, Psalm 103: 2-3 NIV
Will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all
iniquities into the depths of the sea
―Jeremiah 31:34
Will forgive their wickedness and
remember their sins no more
—Micah 7: 19
Reasons to Forgive
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
1. It’s the right thing to do because all
human beings make mistakes
and fall short of the ideal
2. In order to receive forgiveness
for your mistakes
3. To preserve your healthif you choose
unforgiveness, you will likely be the one
who pays most dearly
Two Types of Forgiveness
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
At least two types of forgiveness pop up in
the literature: decisional and emotional
Decisional forgiveness

A behavioral intention to
resist an unforgiving stance

A choice to respond differently toward a
transgressor (letting go of bitterness,
grudges, resentment, and revenge)
Two Types, Cont’d
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Emotional forgiveness:

The replacement of negative
unforgiving emotions with
positive other-oriented emotions

Involves psychophysiological changes

Has greater positive direct health and
well-being consequences
Caveat
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Humans tend to remember
and rehearse what they
thought they’ve forgiven
The cemetery metaphor can be helpful
Bury all the mistakes, injuries, and wrongs
that you have forgiven
No headstones! That way you can’t go back
and dig up what I’ve forgiven and buried
Break Time!
Part Two
after
the break
Forgiveness Health Impact
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) research:
what you think about can alter levels of
several chemicals in your brain and body
Every thought you think alters
your neurochemistry changes
the chemical composition in your
brain and body, impacts your
energy, and enhances or suppresses
immune system function
You May Say . . .
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
But no one knows I’m unforgiving . . .
Your brain and body know and long term
this will have impact your health
Examples:
 Anger -  adrenalin, dopamine
 Sadness -  serotonin
 Laughter -  dopamine,
serotonin, and endorphins
Thoughts  Mental Picture
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
I hate ______ and I
won’t forgive . . .
\
I regret what happened and
I forgive ______ for the
benefits I receive
Your choice will impact both brain and body
The Health Connection
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
When you say “I forgive you,” you’re also
saying “I want to be healthy”
The act of forgiving allows the body to
turn down the manufacture of
catabolic chemicals, and instructs
the subconscious to banish
negative feelings from the mind
 Doctors Arnold Fox and Barry Fox
Authors of Wake Up! You’re Alive!
Grid Study
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
By thinking (imagining) your brain changes
Grid Study results:
 Actual experience
 Virtual experience

PET Scans showed little if any difference
in changes to brain imaging print-outs
Brain-Body
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Neurons (thinking cells) are found
in the brain and many other places
in the body, including:
• Heart (40,000+ neurons)
• Solar Plexus (large clusters)
• GI Tract (1,000,000 neurons, 90% of the
serotonin and 50% of the dopamine in
your brain and body)
The Health Impact
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
If you choose unforgiveness, studies have
shown negative side affects, including:
•
•
•
•
 stress levels and muscle tension
 levels of adrenaline and cortisol
 blood pressure and heart rate
 risk for depression, heart
disease, stroke, and cancer
• Suppressed immune function
• Impaired neurological function / memory
Health Impact, Cont’d
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
If you choose decisional and emotional
forgiveness, studies have shown
positive outcomes, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Healthier relationships
Lower blood pressure
Less anxiety, stress, and hostility
Fewer symptoms of depression
Lower risk of alcohol / substance abuse
 compassion, kindness, and peace
 mental, physical, and spiritual health
To Forgive or Not to Forgive
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
www.arlenetaylor.org
Unforgiveness results in negative
outcomes to your health and
overall wellbeing
Forgiveness results in positive
outcomes to your brain and body,
receiving forgiveness for your
negative-consequence behaviors,
and increase health and wellbeing
Summary Guidelines
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
Although humans never forgive at God’s
level, they can follow guidelines:
1. Choose to forgive - step 1 and step 2
2. Bury what you forgive - no headstones
3. Stop talking about them – no rehearsing
4. Be healthy and prosper – even as your
soul prospers
Practical Application
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
As a Preacher’s Kid and
dealing with critical church
members, my father said he
found the parable of the sower helpful
A phone call last week reminded me of
some of those childhood experiences
It had to do with Soquel Campmeeting . . .
Observations
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
People who have a strong spiritual ethic tend
to be forgiving at both step 1 and step 2
Those who are religiously rigid—but not very
spiritual—may be less forgiving and more
critical, judgmental, and even vindictive
 Middle-Ages persecution
 Palestinian wars
 Iraq-Pakistan conflicts
Forgiveness is About You
Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Realizations Inc
1. Do you want forgiveness?
2. Who do you need to forgive?
3. How big is your cemetery?
4. How healthy do you want to be?
It’s your choice…
—The End—