GLENDALE—Dr. Viken Yacoubian, who recently ended a successful 16-year tenure as the principal at Rose and Alex Pilibos school, has authored an important chapter in a new book called, “Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Psychological Pathways to Conflict Transformation and Peace Building.”
Yacoubian’s chapter, entitled “Forgiveness in the Context of the Armenian Experience,” is the only one in the book that addresses the Armenian Genocide from a psychological perspective. It discusses forgiveness vs. reconciliation, the psychological implications of dislocation and uprooting. Yacoubian poses the powerful question of whether forgiveness is a feasible option and explores themes of empowerment through forgiveness by the victim.
The 318-page hardcover is by Ani Kalayjian and Raymond F. Paloutzian. Unlike most books on the subject, which tend to focus on the individual’s development of forgiveness from a single perspective, Forgiveness and Reconciliation reaches across the spectrum of approaches—socio-psychological, bio-psychological, therapeutic, developmental, and spiritual among them—to offer examples of intervention at the individual, community, generational, and national levels. This inclusiveness (and a range of real-world illustrations from U.S. race relations to the Armenian genocide) gives readers access to not only the core issues of forgiveness and the dialogic nature of reconciliation, but also the intersecting psychological and social processes involved as they affect all participants in conflict.
The book touches on reconciliation efforts in Rwanda, Darfur, India, and Pakistan, lessons in empathy and repentance from lifers in prison, promoting reconciliation through arts and the media, the potential for forgiveness despite revisionism, denial, and continued injustice and reconciliation in the divided society.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation breaks new ground as a volume that will enhance the work of social and peace psychologists, students and researchers in intergroup and international relations, and peace and conflict studies.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Psychological Pathways to Conflict Transformation and Peace Building
Series: Peace Psychology Book Series
Kalayjian, Ani, Paloutzian, Raymond F.
2009, X, 318 p. 5 illus. in color., Hardcover
There can be no forgiveness — especially where there is no punishment, no apology, no admission of guilt, no atonement, nor promise not to repeat.
I have not read this book, so I am not going to make any comments about the book but I agree with what Haroutiun says about forgiveness. How can anyone forgive a criminal who expresses no remorse, guilt, no self reflection ,no thought for the victims or their loved ones.Or is it all going to be ” kiss kiss, make up”.