Forgiveness, Seinfeld Grudges + The Science of Blame

It seems that the denizens of New London, Connecticut have real issues with forgiveness and letting go. Every year they throw a bizarre festival castigating the infamous American Revolutionary War-era traitor Benedict Arnold for giving information to the British forces leading them to raid and burn New London in 1781. The annual event consists of parades with revelers wearing tricorn hats, carrying mock bayonets and torches and other commemorations all culminating in the burning of Arnold in effigy after 242 years. Really, no really! Forgiving is not always easy, it’s like trying to fold a giant fitted sheet—a seemingly impossible task that requires patience, flexibility, and perhaps a touch of divine intervention. So that got us thinking about how anger, resentment, and hatred impact our wellbeing and what the benefits of forgiveness may offer us. And because it’s what he does, Peter tracked down the Godfather of forgiveness, the man who recognized its power and has since dedicated his life to the research and proliferation of forgiveness. Lauded as a “game changer in modern psychology” by the American Psychological Foundation, Dr. Robert Enright holds the Aristotelian Professorship in Forgiveness Science in the UW–Madison School of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology. He’s also a five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, winner of the 2022 American Psychological Foundation’s Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology, and author of the first scientific study on person-to-person forgiveness. IN THIS EPISODE: Forgiveness defined and its scientifically proven benefits. When someone forgives but keeps punishing you. Does forgiveness negate justice? The cultures that have adopted unconditional forgiveness. Should schools teach forgiveness as part of a basic curriculum? Too much forgiveness? Toxic forgiveness? 100 men in maximum-security prison; how forgiveness affected them? The step-by-step process to achieve forgiveness. The scientific reason we blame people. Jason’s mother’s reason for blaming people. Historical feuds, Seinfeld grudges & producer Lorre’s vendettas. Peter’s skin’s quality and why Jason likes touching him. FOLLOW DR. ENRIGHT: InternationalForgiveness.com FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices