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Pisa (pte040/23.04.2003/15:16) - Researchers in Italy aim to provide scientific evidence to back up claims that forgiveness is not only morally righteous but also healthy.
Professor Pietro Pietrini, a neuroscientist at the University of Pisa Medical School in Italy http://www.med.unipi.it , has been granted funding from 'A Campaign for Forgiveness Research' http://www.forgiving.org , a United States-based non-profit organization, to test his hypothesis that forgiveness allows one to overcome a situation that would otherwise be a major source of stress, both mentally and neurobiologically.
In his study, Pietrini presents subjects with scenarios involving forgiveness and unforgiveness to induce an emotional state and monitor its effects on the brain's activity through the use of modern functional brain imaging tools.
"We want to test the hypothesis that forgiveness leads to better health," said Pietrini.
Pietrini gave the example of a woman who is unable to forgive her husband's betrayal.
"A divorce produces a high rate of stress and can alter an individual's psychological and neurobiological equilibrium. The easiest way to avoid adverse effects on the mind and body is to forgive," Pietrini said.
Research in the United States appears to back such claims. A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin recruited 36 males with coronary artery disease and a history of unresolved issues related to war, childhood memories, domestic problems or work conflicts.
The researchers found that those who received forgiveness training showed improvements in the blood flow to the heart.
The issue of reconciliation has long been prevalent in many world religions. Christians, for instance, are invited to follow the example of Jesus, who preached and practised mercy all the way to the cross.
Judaism and Islam also call on the faithful to forgive those who have inflicted pain or to set vengeful anger aside.
Evolutionary experts treat forgiveness as a strategy for survival among animals that need to cooperate with each other.
Pietrini sees no contradiction between religion and science, arguing that many Christian or Jewish traditions have a scientific basis.
"After being restricted to the domain of religion and philosophy, forgiveness is finally being made the subject of scientific research," Pietrini said. Pietrini added that he hoped to complete his research next year.
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