Research Activity Number Six

Activity: Forgiveness 

Target participant group: Inmates in Correction Facilities

Therapeutic potential of this activity: To provide inmates with a sense of understanding and closure from their wrongdoings in life. To relieve them of guilt so that their time left here on Earth can be comforting. To allow inmates to connect with others by sharing their experiences and learning from their mistakes.   

What other groups may benefit from this activity?

At-risk youth may also benefit from this activity because it would allow for them to share their experiences such as their story and how they got to where they are now. This would allow for them to better connect with each other and provide them with understanding of how they can make things better for their future. Specifically, I could  see this activity being beneficial for youth with Conduct Disorder or Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?

I do not see this activity as being very beneficial to other groups as its main focus is to work on the ability to forgive themselves and others for the mistakes they have made, whether or not they have a second chance to redeem themselves in life.

Activity description: This is an activity that can be used in a group setting of 3-15 people.

Facilitation/Instruction:

The facilitator should explain that the objective of this activity is for each person to express their wrongdoings in life in order for them to gain forgiveness from others and themselves, to learn and understand from their mistakes, and to bring them to a state of peace and comfort. The facilitator or participants can decide who will share first. Participants can share by going around in a circle or by whoever is most willing to share after a participant has finished. After each participant has shared, the facilitator should allow for them to reflect on the things that were just discussed, and then bring them back together by debriefing about how each participant felt during the activity and how they are feeling now.  

Resources needed: None 

Best leadership style for this activity: Participative Leadership

Where did you find this activity?

I found the topic for this activity in the book, Non-Competitive Games for People of All Ages by Susan Butler, but I created the activity myself.  

Where can others find more information on this activity?

I found the book Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit of Hope, Healing and Forgiveness by Tom Lagana, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor Hansen. I think this book would be a very useful tool to aid in activities of this sort.