By William Tang ’30, OCW

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Can letting go of resentment make us happier? A recent study led by researchers at the Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science suggests that forgiveness may play an important role in improving psychological well-being. Drawing on data from more than 200,000 individuals across 22 countries, researchers explored the relationship between forgiveness and mental health. Their findings revealed that individuals who demonstrated greater forgiveness tended to report better psychological well-being, suggesting that the ability to move beyond past grievances may contribute to healthier lives. The findings offer new insights into how social relationships and emotional behaviors shape mental health across diverse cultures. Although the research does not establish causation between forgiveness and happiness, it highlights the potential importance of forgiveness in promoting overall well-being.