KNOXVILLE – According to Kristina Gordon, UT associate professor of psychology, forgiveness is a process that reduces “unforgiveness”—bitterness, anger—and increases positive regard—love, compassion.
Gordon will speak about “Shattered Relationships: Understanding Betrayal and Forgiveness in Intimate Relationships” at noon on April 29 in Thompson-Boling Arena Dining Room C-D at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The program is free and open to the public; attendees are welcome to bring their lunches or purchase lunch at the Café at the Arena.
Gordon makes a distinction between what forgiveness is and is not.
“Forgiveness is a process, an opportunity to gain an understanding about your partner, your relationship, and yourself, a release from being dominated by negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors,” Gordon said. “Forgiveness is not reconciling, forgetting, or excusing the affair, an immediate or one-time event.”
Gordon will be using evidence gathered from her research in collaboration with other colleagues to speak on the topic.
The UT Science Forum is a weekly event where academic, medical, and research professionals share their knowledge and unique insights in their fields. Different science topics will be discussed with a question-and-answer session at the end of each forty-minute presentation.
The UT Science Forum is sponsored by the UT Office of Research.
For questions about the UT Science Forum, contact Mark Littmann, littmann@utk.edu or 974-8156, or Mike Clark, clarkgmorph@utk.edu or 974-6006.
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C O N T A C T:
Whitney Holmes (865-974-5460, wholmes7@utk.edu)