Is the Exoneration-Forgiveness Distinction in Contextual Therapy Evident in Practice, and What Can We Learn From It?

Abstract

This article compares exoneration with the correlated concept of forgiveness. According to Contextual Therapy, a fundamental distinction exists between the two. It states that exoneration depends on an adult reassessment of history, resulting in the offender being freed of guilt. Conversely, according to Contextual Therapy, forgiveness is beyond reassessment and relies on the generosity of the forgiver while retaining the assumption of guilt on the part of the wrongdoer. After briefly introducing and concisely overviewing contextual theory, the five core elements of exoneration are identified as (a) an intrapersonal, interpersonal, or posthumous process; (b) motivated by loyalty and obligation; (c) recognition of suffered injustice; and (d) an adult reassessment, leading to (e) a promise of improvement. Then, the core elements are compared with the findings of a previously conducted international phenomenological research study on forgiveness processes between children and parents. Instead of finding evidence of the distinction between exoneration and forgiveness as Contextual Therapy proposes, this article confirms the importance of the five identified elements for both exoneration and forgiveness.