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The Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) is used as the inventory assessment for this model. The EFI is an objective measure of the degree to which one person forgives another who has hurt him or her deeply and unfairly. The EFI has 60 items and three subscales of 20 items each that assess the domains of Affect, Behavior and Cognition. Each subscale is yet divided into two internal subscales composed by 10 positive items and 10 negative items (i.e., Positive Affect, Negative Affect, Positive Behavior, Negative Behavior, Positive Cognition, and Negative Cognition). In addition, five final items are added for construct validity.

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The EFI is not a public domain assessment tool; it must be purchased and used per license obtain.

 

No other formal assessment of forgiveness exists, other than the EFI. The questions within the four phases of the EFI model can be used as a diagnostic interview process. These questions allow both the therapist and the clients to identify and clarify areas of need for the client. The therapist can also use a variety of other assessment tools to help the client better such as; self-esteem questionnaires or cognitive distortions.

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Below are the questions in each of the four phases:

 

 

UNCOVERING PHASE:

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1. To what extent have I denied - or attempted to forget – that I was offended and the suffering which I have experienced as a result?

2. In what ways have I avoided feeling and dealing with my anger and suffering?

3. In what ways have I attempted to feel and deal with (i.e., face) my anger?

4. To what extent do I experience, and avoid exposing, any shame or guilt?

5. In what ways does my unresolved anger affect my physical and emotional health, relationships, and work productivity?

6. To what extent am I obsessed or preoccupied with how I was offended and/or with my offender?

7. To what extent do I compare my own life situation with that of my offender?

8. To what extent has the offense caused permanent, difficult change(s) in my life?

9. How has the offense changed my worldview, i.e., in what ways do I now believe or perceive that “the world” – or God – are (no longer) as just or loving?

 

DECISION PHASE

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1. What is – and is not – forgiveness?

2. To what extent do I experience that, although I have tried – or am sincerely trying – to forgive, I realize that emotionally I have not?

3. What stops me from courageously confronting my offender’s unjust actions toward me – both internally and directly?

4. To what extent may I “idolize” or “demonize” my offender – i.e., regard him or her either as not needing my forgiveness or as being unforgiveable?

5. Am I willing to consider forgiving my offender (i.e., willing to become willing to forgive?)

6. What has not worked for me so for in trying to forgive my offender?

7. What stops me from being (or becoming more) willing to try to forgive now?

8. To what extent have I decided to forgive – am I committed to trying to forgive now – (perhaps again)?

 

WORK PHASE

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1. Have I developed an understanding of how I was offended and the past and immediate consequences of the offense, as well as a deeper self-compassion?

2. In what way(s) have my prior attempts to understand, develop compassion for and forgive my offender, made it difficult for me to fully realize and feel the consequences of the offense?

3. What in justice, should I do now, if anything, to seek restitution, i.e., deal with the lingering affects of the past offense(s) and/or to protect myself or others from actual or new offenses?

4. What, if anything, stops me from seeking restitution for past offenses by the offender and/or protecting myself and others from future offenses by him or her?

5. What may I do now to accept and resolve the pain and consequences of how my offender did and did not treat me?

6. How may I grieve my sadness and pain and use my anger to assertively care for myself – and if relevant, others?

7. How safe – or possible – is any direct contact with my offender at this time?

8. What human and spiritual help do I need in order to forgive my offender as I may chose to, and how will I seek and cooperate with this help?

9. What was and is my offender really like?

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References: 

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Sutton, P. (n.d.). The Enright Process Model of Psychological Forgiveness. Retrieved 7/22/18https://couragerc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/02/Enright_Process_Forgiveness_1.pdf

 

Enright, R. D.(2012). The Forgiving Life: A Pathway to Overcoming Resentment and

Creating a Legacy of Love (APA Lifetools). Washington, DC: American

Psychological Association, 2012. [cf: http://www.internationalforgiveness.com/]

 

Enright, R. D. (2014). Clearing up client confusion regarding the meaning of forgiveness: an Aristotelian/Thomistic analysis with counseling implications. Counseling and Values, 59(2), 249+. Retrieved fromhttp://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/apps/doc/A387347563/ITOF?u=vic_liberty&sid=ITOF&xid=de0535d6

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Kim, J. J., & Enright, R. D. (2014). A theological and psychological defense of self-forgiveness: Implications for counseling. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 42(3), 260-268. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1735314375?accountid=12085