CHARLOTTE VAN OYEN WITVLIET, PH.D.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Articles (*denotes student)
Abernethy, A.D., Witvliet, C.V.O, Kurian, K.R., Brown , S., Uh, M., Rice, B.E., & Rold, L. (2015).
Varieties of spiritual experience: A study of closeness to God, struggle, transformation, and
confession-forgiveness in communal worship. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Berry, J.W., Worthington, E.L. Jr., Wade, N.G., Witvliet, C.V.O., Kiefer, R.P. (2005). Forgiveness,
moral identity, and perceived justice in crime victims and their supporters. Humboldt Journal
of Social Relations, 29, 136-162.
Carlisle, R.D., Tsang, J-A., Ahmad, N.Y., Worthington, E.L. Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., & Wade, N. (2012).
Do actions speak louder than words? Differential effects of apology and restitution on
behavioral and self-report measures of forgiveness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7, 294305.
Exline, J.J., Baumeister, R.F., Zell, A.L., Kraft, A.J., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (2008). Not so innocent: Does
seeing one’s own capability for wrongdoing predict forgiveness? Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, 94, 495-515.
Mazzeo, S.E., Beckham, J.C., Witvliet, C.V.O., Feldman, M.E., & Shivy, V.A. (2002). A cluster
analysis of symptom patterns and adjustment in Vietnam combat veterans with chronic
posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 1555-1571.
Panayiotou, G., Witvliet, C.V.O., Robinson, J.D., & Vrana, S.R. (2011). A startling absence of
emotion effects: Active attention to the startle probe as a motor task cue appears to eliminate
modulation of the startle reflex by valence and arousal. Biological Psychology, 87, 226-233.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (1997). Traumatic intrusive imagery as an emotional memory phenomenon: A review
of research and explanatory information processing theories. Clinical Psychology Review, 17,
509-536.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2001). Forgiveness and health: Review and reflections on a matter of faith, feelings,
and physiology. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 29, 212-224.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *DeYoung, N.J., *Hofelich, A.J., and DeYoung, P.A. (2011). Compassionate
reappraisal and emotion suppression as alternatives to offense-focused rumination: Implications
for forgiveness and psychophysiological well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6,
286-299.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Knoll, R.W., *Hinman, N.G., and DeYoung, P.A. (2010). Compassion-focused
reappraisal, benefit-focused reappraisal, and rumination after an interpersonal offense: Emotion
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
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regulation implications for subjective emotion, linguistic responses, and physiology. The
Journal of Positive Psychology, 5, 226-242.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hinman, N.G., Exline, J.J., & *Brandt, T. (2011). Responding to our own
transgressions: An experimental writing study of repentance, offense rumination, selfjustification, and distraction. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 30, 223-238.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hinze, S.R., & Worthington, E.L., Jr. (2008). Unresolved injustice: An
investigation of Christian commitment, forgiveness, negative emotion, and cardiovascular
responding. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 27, 110-119.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hofelich Mohr, A.J., *Hinman, N. G., *Knoll, R. W. (2015). Transforming or
restraining rumination: The impact of compassionate reappraisal versus emotion suppression
on empathy, forgiveness, and affective psychophysiology. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10,
248-261.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Ludwig, T.E., & *Bauer, D.J. (2002). Please forgive me: Transgressors’ emotions
and physiology during imagery of seeking forgiveness and victim responses. Journal of
Psychology and Christianity, 21, 219-233.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Ludwig, T.E., & *Vander Laan, K.L. (2001). Granting forgiveness or harboring
grudges: Implications for emotions, physiology, and health. Psychological Science, 12, 117123.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Phipps, K.A., Feldman, M.E., & Beckham, J.C. (2004). Posttraumatic mental and
physical health correlates of forgiveness and religious coping in military veterans. Journal of
Traumatic Stress, 17, 269-273.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & Vrana, S.R. (1995). Psychophysiological responses as indices of affective
dimensions. Psychophysiology, 32, 436-443.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & Vrana, S.R. (2000). Emotional imagery, the visual startle, and covariation bias: An
affective matching account. Biological Psychology, 52, 187-204.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & Vrana, S.R. (2007). Play it again, Sam: Repeated exposure to emotionally
evocative music polarizes liking and smiling responses, and influences other affective reports,
facial EMG and heart rate. Cognition and Emotion, 21, 3-25.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Worthington, E.L., Jr., *Root, L.M., *Sato, A.F., Ludwig, T.E., & Exline, J.J. (2008).
Retributive justice, restorative justice, and forgiveness: An experimental psychophysiology
analysis. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology y, 44, 10-25.
Worthington, E.L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Lerner, A.J., & Scherer, M. (2005). Forgiveness in health
research and medical practice. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing, 1, 169-175.
Worthington, E.L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Pietrini, P., & Lerner, A.J. (2007). Forgiveness, health, and
well-being: A review of evidence for emotional versus decisional forgiveness, dispositional
forgivingness, and reduced unforgiveness. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30, 291-302.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
3
Invited Chapters
Abernethy, A.D., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (2008). A study of transformation in worship: Psychological,
cultural, and psychophysiological perspectives. In A. Abernethy (Ed.), Worship That Changes
Lives: Multidisciplinary and Congregational Perspectives on Spiritual Transformation (pp.
197-216). Baker Academic.
McCullough, M.E., *Root, L.M., Tabak, B., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (2009). Forgiveness. In S.J. Lopez
(Ed.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, Second Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
McCullough, M.E., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (2001). The psychology of forgiveness. In C.R. Snyder (Ed.),
Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 446-458). New York: Oxford University Press.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2003). Forgiveness. In D.G. Myers and M. Jeeves (Eds.), Psychology Through the
Eyes of Faith. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2005). Unforgiveness, forgiveness, and justice: Peripheral physiology findings. In E.
L. Worthington, Jr. (Ed.), Handbook of Forgiveness. Brunner-Routledge.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2008). Forgiveness: Healing hurts, restoring happiness. In S.J. Lopez (Ed.), The
Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology, Volume 1, pp. 403-410. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (in press). Forgiveness. In S.J. Lopez (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Positive
Psychology, 2nd Edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2010). Understanding and approaching forgiveness as altruism: Relationships with
rumination, self-control and a gratitude-based strategy. In M.R. Maamri, N. Verbin, and E.L.
Worthington, Jr. (Eds.) A Journey through Forgiveness, pp. 99-107. Oxford, England: InterDisciplinary Press. Accessed April 13, 2011. http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/publishing/idpress/ebooks/a-journey-through-forgiveness/.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2012). Empirical studies of forgiveness as an altruistic response: Relationships with
rumination, suppression of negative emotions, and a benefit-focused reappraisal. In M.R.
Maamri, N. Verbin, and E.L. Worthington, Jr. (Eds.) Mapping Forgiveness, pp. 15-32. Oxford,
England: Inter-Disciplinary Press.
Witvliet, C.V.O., & McCullough, M.E. (2007). Forgiveness and health: A review and theoretical
exploration of emotion pathways. In S. Post (Ed.), Altruism and Health: Perspectives from
Empirical Research, pp. 258-276. Oxford University Press.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Van Tongeren, D.R., Root-Luna, L. (2015). Measuring forgiveness in health-related
contexts. In Loren Toussaint, Everett Worthington, Jr., and David R. Williams (Eds.)
Forgiveness and Health: Scientific Evidence and Theories Relating Forgiveness to Better
Health. New York: Springer.
Worthington, E.L., Jr., Lavelock, C., Van Tongeren, D.R., Witvliet, C.V.O., Griffin, B.J., Greer, C.L.,
Jennings, D.J., II, Lin, Y., Jordan, K., & Ho, M.Y. (2014). The contributions of Christian
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
4
perspectives and practices to positive psychology. Chapter in Chu Kim-Prieto (Ed.), Positive
Psychology of Religion, pp. 47-70. New York: Springer.
Worthington, E.L., Jr., Lavelock, C., Witvliet, C.V.O., Rye, M.S., Tsang, J-A., Toussaint, L. (2014).
Measures of forgiveness. Chapter in Gregory J. Boyle, Donald H. Saklofske, and Gerald
Matthews (Eds.), Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Constructs, pp. 474-502.
Oxford: Academic Press.
Teaching Resources
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2006). Emotion and Forgiveness. Emotion DVD. In inside out video series
produced by IN TELE COM, Intelligent Telecommunications. Pasadena: CA
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2000). Anxiety Disorders. On-Line Tutorial for D.G. Myers Introduction to
Psychology. Worth Publishers.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2000). Schizophrenic Disorders. On-Line Tutorial for D.G. Myers Introduction to
Psychology. Worth Publishers.
Dissertation
Witvliet, C.V.O. (1996). The impact of music-prompted emotional valence and arousal on self-report,
autonomic, facial EMG, and startle responses across experimental contexts, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, IN.
Master’s Thesis
Witvliet, C.V.O. (1993). The startle reflex as an index of affective dimensions, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, IN.
Refereed Published Abstracts
(Related to presentations given at the Society for Psychological Research and Society of Behavioral
Medicine)
da Silva, S. P., Riek, B., Witvliet, C.V.O. (2011). Autonomic response to transgressors’ imagery of
seeking forgiveness of others and self-forgiving. Psychophysiology, 48, S117.
Panayiotou, G., Robinson, J., Witvliet, C.V.O., & Vrana, S.R. (1995). Effects of valence and arousal of
emotional imagery and a secondary reaction time task on the startle reflex and heart rate.
Psychophysiology, Supplement, 58.
Panayiotou, G., Witvliet, C.V.O., Robinson, J., & Vrana, S.R. (1995). Effects of emotional imagery on
the startle reflex, heart rate and reaction time. Psychophysiology, Supplement, 58.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hinze, S.R., & Worthington, E.L. Jr. (2004). Psychophysiological responses to
crime, apology, ad restitution: The role of spiritual commitment. Psychophysiology,
Supplement, 90.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
5
Witvliet, C.V.O., Ludwig, T.E., *Chamberlain, K., *Thompson, E., & *Ahmad, D. (1999). "They done
me wrong": The Psychophysiology of remembering hurts, holding grudges, empathizing, and
forgiving. Psychophysiology, 36, Supplement 1, 120.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Panayiotou, G., Gupta, A., Robinson, J.D., & Vrana, S.R. (1994). Emotional
imagery: Effects of arousal and valence on reaction time and heart rate. Psychophysiology,
Supplement, 101.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Panayiotou, G., & Vrana, S.R. (1995). The effects of auditory and visual emotional
imagery on heart rate and reaction time to auditory and visual probes. Psychophysiology,
Supplement, 80.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Panayiotou, G., & Vrana, S.R. (1995). The impact of affective arousal and individual
differences on heart rate and reaction time. Psychophysiology, Supplement, 80.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Robinson, J., Panayiotou, G., & Vrana, S.R. (1996). Effects of tone-cued fear and
pleasant imagery on reaction times to early probes, heart rate, and skin conductance.
Psychophysiology, Supplement, 91.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Root, L.M., *Sato, A.F., & Ludwig, T.E. (2003). Justice and forgiveness:
Psychophysiological effects for victims. Psychophysiology, Supplement, 87.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Vander Laan, K., & Ludwig, T.E. (2000). To forgive or not to forgive:
Effects on heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, and facial EMG. Annals of Behavioral
Medicine, 22, Supplement, 114.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & Vrana, S.R. (1996). Emotional imagery and the visual startle reflex: Negative
valence and high arousal independently increase magnitudes. Psychophysiology, Supplement,
91.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & Vrana, S.R. (1996). The emotional impact of instrumental music on affect ratings,
facial EMG, autonomic measures, and the startle reflex: Effects of valence and arousal.
Psychophysiology, Supplement, 91.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Vrana, S.R., & Webb-Talmadge, N. (1998). In the mood: Emotion and facial
expressions during and after instrumental music, and during an emotional inhibition task,
Psychophysiology, Supplement, 88.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Worthington, E.L., Jr., & Wade, N.G. (2002). Victims' heart rate and facial EMG
responses to receiving an apology and restitution. Psychophysiology, Supplement, 88.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS (SELECTED SINCE ON FACULTY AT HOPE COLLEGE)
(*denotes Hope College student)
*Chen, S., *Pikaart, N., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (May, 2015). Hope and Hopelessness:
Relationships with Gratitude, Forgiveness, Self-Control, and Patience. Poster presented at Psi
Chi at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
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*Chen, S., *Klotz, K., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (May, 2015). The Relationships among
Hope, Meaning, Spirituality, Religiosity, and Flourishing. Poster presented at Psi Chi at the
Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
*Klotz, K., *Pikaart, N., *Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (May, 2015). Hope,
Hopelessness, and Mental Health in College Students. Poster presented at Psi Chi at the Annual
Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
*Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (May, 2015). Hope and Hopelessness in Optimistic
and Pessimistic College Students: Predicting Depressive Symptom. Poster presented at Psi Chi
at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
*Chen, S., *Pikaart, N., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (April 2015). Gratitude and hope: A
two-way street. Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Chen, S., *Klotz, K., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (April 2015). The meaning of hope:
Faith and flourishing. Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Klotz, K., *Pikaart, N., *Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (April, 2015). Hope
matters: Mental health in college student. Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Hope
College, Holland, MI.
*Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (April, 2015). Pessimists can thrive, too: State hope
improves mental health. Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Chen, S., *Klotz, K., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (October, 2014). Understanding and
appreciating hope: Relationships with religiosity and spirituality. Psychology Department 80th
Birthday Celebration, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Chen, S., *Pikaart, N., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (October, 2014). Hope’s relationship to
other strengths and virtues factors in college students. Psychology Department 80th Birthday
Celebration, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Klotz, K., *Pikaart, N., *Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (October, 2014). The
relationship between hope and mental health factors in college students. Psychology
Department 80th Birthday Celebration, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (October, 2014). Hope and hopelessness in
optimistic and pessimistic college students predict depressive symptoms. Psychology
Department 80th Birthday Celebration, Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor). (June, 2014). New hope research in relationship to
faith factors, strengths and virtues, physical health, and mental health. Social Sciences and
Humanities Luncheon Speaker. Hope College, Holland, MI.
*Richie, F., & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Advisor (June, 2014). Hope in relationship to faith factors,
strengths and virtues, physical health and mental health. Annual Research Day for Prospective
Students. Hope College, Holland, MI.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
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Witvliet, C.V.O. (2014, May). Forgiven and forgiving: Spirituality and mental health. Keynote
address at the Many Faces of Forgiveness conference of the Christians in Counseling
Professionals of Chicagoland, Wheaton, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (faculty mentor), *Chen, S., *De Maagd, A., *Frazier, C., *Klotz, K., *Lawson, B.,
*Leonard, S., *Pikaart, N., and *Sandquist, M. (2014, April). Hope and its relationship to faith,
strengths, virtues, physical health, and mental health. Psychology Advanced Research
Presentation, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2013, August). Seeking and granting forgiveness: Two empirical investigations of
forgiving oneself and forgiving others. Project presentation at the Fetzer Institute conference
with the Forgiveness Research Network, Kalamazoo, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2013, August). Forgiveness at the intersection of spirituality and science: The state
of forgiveness research. Project presentation at the Fetzer Institute conference with the
Forgiveness Research Network, Kalamazoo, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2012, October). Interpersonal forgiveness with and without reconciliation.
Presentation given in conjunction with Hope College’s Critical Issues Symposium on
Reconciliation, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2012, August). Learning in a life that matters. Convocation address, Hope College,
Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2012, June). Forgiveness and flourishing at the intersection of spirituality and
science. Keynote address at the Spiritual Progress and Human Flourishing Conference to mark
achievements in major funding areas of the John Templeton Foundation, Annual Members and
Trustees Meeting, University of the South, Sewanee, TN.
(Note: This was one of six invited addresses given at the 100th birthday of Sir John)
da Silva, S. P., Riek, B., Witvliet, C. (2011, September). Autonomic response to transgressors’
imagery of seeking forgiveness of others and self-forgiving. Poster presented at the 51st Annual
Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, Boston, MA.
Armstrong, M., da Silva, S., Riek, B. & Witvliet, C. (2011, May). Heart rate variability to
transgressor’s imagery of seeking forgiveness of others and self-forgiving. Poster presented at
the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Armstrong, M., da Silva, S., Riek, B. & Witvliet, C. (2011, April). Heart rate variability to
transgressor’s imagery of seeking forgiveness of others and self-forgiving. Presentation at the
Michigan Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (April, 2011). Forgiveness and gratitude: Experimental evidence for compassionfocused and benefit-focused reappraisals. Presentation for the Research Colloquium at the
Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, La Mirada, CA.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (February, 2011). The psychology and physiology of forgiveness and gratitude:
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
8
Experimental evidence for compassion-focused and benefit-focused reappraisals. Presentation
for the Westmont College Natural and Behavioral Science Seminar, Santa Barbara, CA.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (October, 2010). Cognitive approaches that promote forgiveness and gratitude:
Evidence for compassion-focused and benefit-focused reappraisals. Presentation for the
Research Colloquium at the Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary,
Pasadena, CA.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (July, 2010). Understanding and approaching forgiveness as altruism: Relationships
with rumination, self-control, and a gratitude-based strategy. Paper presented at the 3rd Global
Conference: Forgiveness, Oxford, England.
*Brandt, T., *Lawrence, L., & *St. Clair, C. (Witvliet, C.V.O., faculty sponsor). (May, 2010).
Rumination, repentance, and self-condoning after committing an interpersonal transgression:
Effects of a writing experiment. Presentation for a Psi Chi Regional Research Award, Chicago,
IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (April, 2010). Positive reappraisals of negative interpersonal experiences: The
psychophysiology of altruistic and benefit-focused reappraisals. Keynote address for the
Michigan Undergraduate Psychological Research Conference, Calvin College, Grand Rapids,
MI.
*Lawrence, L., *Brandt, T., & *St. Clair, C. (Witvliet, C.V.O., faculty sponsor). (April, 2010). Selfforgiveness: The effects of a writing experiment on rumination, repentance, and self-condoning
after committing an interpersonal transgression. Ninth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate
Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (April, 2010). A psychological reflection on the Beatitudes: Response to Carl
Holladay. Presentation for the Pursuit of Happiness Roundtable at the Center for the Study of
Law and Religion, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (October, 2010). A psychological reflection on Hebrew wisdom literature: Response
to Carol Newsom. Presentation for the Pursuit of Happiness Roundtable at the Center for the
Study of Law and Religion, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
*Hinman, N., & *Knoll R. (Witvliet, C.V.O., faculty sponsor). (May, 2009). Finding the silver lining
and loving the enemy: Linguistic analyses of brief benefit-finding and altruistic forgiveness
interventions to cope with an interpersonal offense. Presentation for a Psi Chi Regional
Research Award, Chicago, IL.
*Knoll, R., & *Hinman, N. (Witvliet, C.V.O., faculty sponsor). (May, 2009). Thinking and thanking:
The effects of forgiveness and gratitude reappraisal imagery in response to a real-life offense.
Presentation for a Psi Chi Regional Research Award, Chicago, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (faculty sponsor)*Hinman, N., & *Knoll R. (March, 2009). Finding the silver lining
and loving the enemy: Linguistic analyses of brief benefit-finding and altruistic forgiveness
interventions to cope with an interpersonal offense. Eighth Annual Celebration of
Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
9
Witvliet, C.V.O. (faculty sponsor)*Hinman, N., *Zeluff, R., *Brandt, R., *Lawrence, L., *St. Clair, C.,
& *Sweet, M. (March, 2009). Self-forgiveness: A study of repentance and self-condoning
responses after committing an interpersonal transgression. Eighth Annual Celebration of
Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. & De Young, P. (faculty sponsors) *Knoll, R., & *Brandt, T. (March, 2009). The
development of heart rate variability methods to assess parasympathetic functioning in three
coping studies. Eighth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative
Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (faculty sponsor) *Knoll, R., &*Hinman, N. (March, 2009). Thinking and thanking:
The effects of forgiveness and gratitude reappraisal imagery in response to a real-life offense.
Eighth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance, Hope
College, Holland, MI.
*Hinman, N., Witvliet, C.V.O., & *Knoll, R. (February, 2009). Positive reappraisals: Linguistic
analyses of brief benefit-finding and altruistic forgiveness interventions after an interpersonal
offense. Poster presented at the 10th Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social
Psychology, Tampa, FL.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Knoll, R., & *Hinman, N. (February, 2009). Altruistic forgiveness and benefitfinding after a real-life offense: A psychophysiological investigation of two positive reappraisal
strategies. Poster presented at the 10th Annual meeting of the Society for Personality and
Social Psychology, Tampa, FL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *Knoll, R., & *Hinman, N. (April, 2008). Forgiveness is hard:
Cognitive and physiological assessments of reappraisal, suppression, and rumination
responses to a real-life offense. Seventh Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and
Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O., & *Hinman, N. (February, 2008). The pursuit of happiness: An investigation of
happiness in relation to forgiveness and physiological flexibility in young adults. Poster
presentation at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology,
Albuquerque, NM.
*Knoll, R., Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hinman, N., *Hofelich, A., & *Jarosz, A. (February, 2008).
Forgiveness is hard: Cognitive and physiological assessments of reappraisal, suppression, and
rumination responses to a real-life offense. Poster presentation at the 9th Annual Meeting of the
Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Albuquerque, NM.
*Hinman, N., Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hofelich, A., *Knoll, R. (February, 2008). Coping with an offense:
The emotional impact of suppression and reappraisal responses to a hurtful event. Poster
presentation at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology,
Albuquerque, NM.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (April, 2007). Forgiveness: Healing hurts, restoring happiness. Invited presentation
at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
10
*DeYoung, N., Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hofelich, A., Demaree, H. (January, 2007). Trying to forgive: A
psychophysiological analysis of rumination, suppression, and reappraisal in response to a
real-life offender. Poster presentation at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality
and Social Psychology, Memphis, TN.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hofelich, A., *DeYoung, N., Dueck, A. (January, 2007). The language of
forgiveness: Linguistic analyses of suppression and reappraisal responses to a real-life
offender. Poster presentation at the 8th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and
Social Psychology, Memphis, TN.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (January, 2007). Perseverance and pay-offs: Celebrating student-faculty
collaboration in a decade of interdisciplinary forgiveness research. Keynote address for the
Sixth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance, Hope
College, Holland, MI.
DeYoung, P. & Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsors), *DeYoung, N. (January, 2007). Heart rate and
spectral densities: Using Fast Fourier Transformations to separate R-R intervals into
frequency data. Sixth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative
Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *DeYoung, N., & *Hofelich, A. (January, 2007). Assessing
forgiveness physiology: An experimental comparison of suppression and reappraisal responses
to cope with memories of a past interpersonal hurt. Sixth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate
Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *Hofelich, A., & *DeYoung, N. (January, 2007). Linguistic
analyses of attempts to forgive a real-life offender: An experimental comparison of
reappraisal, suppression, and rumination. Sixth Annual Celebration of Undergraduate
Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *Jarosz, A., & *Hofelich, A. (January, 2007). Using cardiac
bioimpedance as a method for assessing cardiovascular correlates of emotion. Sixth Annual
Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (October 2006). The Pursuit of Happiness in the Face of Pain: Interpersonal
Forgiveness, Well-Being, and Unselfish Love at the Intersection of Science and Religion.
Invited presentation at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University,
Atlanta, Georgia.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (April 2006). Forgiveness at the Individual Level: Definitions, Antecedents, and
Consequences. Invited presentation to the University of Minnesota Political Science
Department, Minneapolis, MN. (I was invited to be a 2-day departmental colloquium leader.)
*DeYoung, N. & Witvliet, C.V.O. (January 2006). The Heart of Forgiving: An Investigation of
Cardiac and Emotional Responses to Offenses. Presented at the Hope College Undergraduate
Research Celebration, Holland, MI.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
11
Witvliet, C.V.O. (January, 2005). Forgiveness and physiology: Four experiments highlight emotion
connections. In R. Brown & M. Wohl (Chairs), Frontiers in forgiveness research. Symposium
conducted at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting, New Orleans,
LA.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Hinze, S.R., & Worthington, E.L. (October, 2004).
Psychophysiological responses to crime, apology, and restitution: The role of spiritual
commitment. Poster presented at the 44th annual meeting of the Society for
Psychophysiological Research, Santa Fe, NM.
Witvliet, C. V. O., *Root, L. M., & Worthington, E. L. (March, 2004). Forgiveness and justice:
Physiological and self-report effects. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Christian
Association for Psychological Studies, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2003, October). Forgiveness, emotion, and psychophysiology: Four experiments.
Invited paper presented at A Campaign for Forgiveness Research Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Root, L.M., *Sato, A.F., & Ludwig, T.E. (2003, October). Justice and forgiveness:
Psychophysiological effects for victims. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society
for Psychophysiological Research, Chicago, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *Hinze, S. (2003, October). The role of religiosity in affective and
physiological responses to crime, apology, and restitution. Presented at the Undergraduate
Research Symposium, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Worthington, E.L., Jr., & Wade, N.G. (2002, October). Victims' heart rate and facial
EMG responses to receiving an apology and restitution. Poster presented at the annual meeting
of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, Washington, D.C.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (Faculty Sponsor), *Root, L.M., *Sato, A.F., *Hinze, S., & *Hundt, A. (2002,
October). Justice and forgiveness: Emotional and physiological effects. Presented at the
Undergraduate Research Symposium, Hope College, Holland, MI.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Witvliet, C., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J.W. (2002, June). An overview of
forgiveness research and three empirical studies on justice and forgiveness. Invited
colloquium, Department of Psychology and Social Work, National University of Singapore.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Witvliet, C., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J.W. (2002, June). Three studies in justice
and forgiveness. Invited colloquium at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Root, L.M., *Anderson, J., & *Vanover, A. (2002, May) The effects of apologies
and restitution on emotional and physiological responses. Presentation at the Midwestern
Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2002, April). Forgiving and forgiven: Victim & transgressor emotions and
physiology. Presentation at the Christian Association of Psychological Studies, Arlington
Heights, IL.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
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Witvliet, C.V.O., Worthington, E.L., Jr., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J. W. (2002, April). Justice and
forgiveness: Three experimental studies. Presentation at the Christian Association of
Psychological Studies, Arlington Heights, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Wade, N.G., Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Berry, J.W. (2002, April). Physiological
reactivity to apology and restitution. Paper presented at the meeting of the Society of
Behavioral Medicine, Washington, D.C.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J.W. (2002, March). Unforgiveness,
justice, and forgiveness: Three studies. Invited Colloquium to the University sponsored by the
Department of Psychology Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J.W. (2002, March). Unforgiveness,
justice, and forgiveness: Three studies. Invited Colloquium to the Department of Psychology
University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas.
Worthington, E. L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J.W. (2002, February). Unforgiveness,
justice, and forgiveness: Three studies. Invited colloquium at the Department of Psychology,
Iowa State University.
Worthington, E.L., Jr., Witvliet, C.V.O., Wade, N.G., & Berry, J. W. (2001, November). Effects of
apology and restitution on forgiveness in a restorative justice context. Poster presented at the
meeting of the Society for Southeastern Social Psychologists, Knoxville, TN.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Beckham, J.C., & Feldman, M. (2000, November). Posttraumatic mental and
physical health correlates of forgiving and religious coping. Poster presented at the Annual
Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, San Antonio, TX.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2000, August). What do we know about forgiveness and health? In M.E.
McCullough (Chair), Three good questions about forgiveness. Symposium conducted at the
108th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (2000, May). Granting forgiveness or harboring grudges: Implications for emotion,
physiology, and health. Presented at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
Witvliet, C.V.O., *Vander Laan, K., & Ludwig, T.E. (2000, April). To forgive or not to forgive:
Effects on heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, and facial EMG. In K.A. Lawler
(Chair), Forgiveness and health. Symposium conducted at the 21st Annual Meeting of the
Society of Behavioral Medicine, Nashville, TN.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Ludwig, T.E., *Chamberlain, K., *Thompson, E., & *Ahmad, D. (1999, October).
“They Done Me Wrong”: The Psychophysiology of Remembering Hurts, Holding Grudges,
Empathizing, and Forgiving. Presented at the 39th Annual Convention of the Society for
Psychophysiological Research, Granada, Spain.
Witvliet, C.V.O., & Ludwig, T.E. (1999, August). Forgiveness and Unforgiveness: Responses to
Interpersonal Offenses Influence Health. Presented at the 107th Annual Convention of the
American Psychological Association, Boston, MA.
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
13
Witvliet, C.V.O. (1999, April). Forgiveness Embodied: Relating Heart, Soul, and Mind in Scientific
Research. Presented at the 8th Annual Wheaton Theology Conference, Wheaton College,
Wheaton, IL.
Witvliet, C.V.O. (1998, December). Is Forgiveness (or Lack of Forgiveness) Relevant to Client WellBeing? Presented at the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Witvliet, C.V.O., & Vrana, S.R., & Webb-Talmadge, N. (September, 1998). In the Mood: Emotion
and Facial Expressions During and After Instrumental Music. Presented at the 38th Annual
Meeting of the Society of Psychophysiological Research, Denver, CO.
Witvliet, C.V.O., & Webb-Talmadge, N., & Vrana, S.R. (May, 1998). Mood Music: How MusicPrompted Emotion Affects Physiology. Presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the
Midwestern Psychological Association.
Witvliet, C.V.O., Webb-Talmadge, N., & Vrana, S.R. (May, 1998). Play It Again, Sam: Effects of
Repeated Music Listening on Emotional Self-Report and Physiological Responses. Presented
at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
RESEARCH MENTEES WINNING PSI CHI MIDWEST REGIONAL RESEARCH AWARDS
(BY YEAR, STUDENT, AND TOPIC); PRESENTATIONS EACH MAY, CHICAGO, IL.
2010
Timothy Brandt, Lindsey Lawrence, Courtney St. Clair: Rumination, Repentance, and SelfCondoning after Committing an Interpersonal Transgression: Effects of a Writing Experiment
2009a Nova Hinman, Ross Knoll: Finding the silver lining and loving the enemy: Linguistic analyses
of brief benefit-finding and altruistic forgiveness interventions to cope with an interpersonal
offense.
2009b Ross Knoll, Nova Hinman: Thinking and thanking: The effects of forgiveness and gratitude
reappraisal imagery in response to a real-life offense.
2008
2007a
2007b
2004
2003
2001
2000
Nova Hinman, Ross Knoll: Forgiveness through altruism: Emotional and physiological
impact of suppression and reappraisal responses to a real-life offense
Nathaniel DeYoung, Alicia Hofelich: The psychophysiology of forgiveness: Assessing the
effects of suppression and reappraisal to cope with memories of a past interpersonal hurt
Alicia Hofelich, Nathaniel DeYoung: The language of forgiveness: Linguistic analyses of
suppression and reappraisal responses to a real-life offender
Scott Hinze: The role of religious commitment in affective and physiological responses to
crime, apology, and restitution.
Lindsey Root, Amy Sato: Forgiveness and justice: Emotional effects.
David Bauer: The forgiving attitude: How victim responses to their offenders influence their
emotions during subsequent imagery of their offenders.
Kelly Chamberlain VanderLaan, David Bauer: The emotional costs and benefits of withholding
and granting forgiveness.
Collaborative National Level Working Groups
Leading from the Soul, Fifteen-Member working Group convened by the Laity Lodge
Leadership Initiative, 2013-2016
Charlotte vanOyen Witvliet
14
Forgiveness Research Network, Seven-Member Advisory Group and Research Collaborators
funded by the Fetzer Institute, 2008-2011
Pursuit of Happiness Project, Emory University Center for the Study of Law and Religion and
the John Templeton Foundation, 2006-2011
Institute for Research in Psychology and Spirituality, Rosemead School of Psychology 2000-