Rooyesh-e- Ravanshenasi Journal(RRJ)

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of forgiveness therapy on aggression  and empathy of incarcerated boy youth. Research method was pre –post test experimental design. Through all delinquents who have forgiveness issues, 24 participants were randomly selected and randomly were allocated in experimental and control groups. Instruments were the Aggression and Batson’s Empathy Adjectives test. The experimental group was trained in forgiveness therapy via eight group sessions of one hour duration each and no intervention was given to a control group. Statistical analyzed from t-test for independent groups showed that  empathy significantly increased in the experimental group as compared to control group, but aggression in the experimental group was not significantly changed. Therefore, forgiveness therapy could be used significantly and effectively to increase empathy and prosocial behaviors.