Comparison of the effectiveness of group counselling based on rational, emotional and behavioral therapy (REBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on forgiveness of women affected by marital infidelity

• Published in: مجله علوم روانشناختی Vol. 20; no. 97; pp. 139 - 148
• Main Authors: Dariush Esfandiyari Bayat, Ismaeel asadpour, Farshad mohsenzadeh, Abdolrahim kasaee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Persian
• Published: Dr. Mahmoud Mansour publication 01.03.2021
• Subjects: acceptance and commitment therapy (act); forgiveness; marital infidelity; rational-emotional and behavioral therapy (rebt); women affected by marital infidelity
• ISSN: 1735-7462; 2676-6639

Background: Marital infidelity has increased in recent decades. The psychological disorders occur following the non-forgiveness of women who have experienced husbands’ infidelity. Therefore, it is important to address the most effective therapeutic interventions to increase forgiveness in women affected by infidelity. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine comparison of the effectiveness of training based on rational, emotional and behavioral therapy (REBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on forgiveness of women affected by marital infidelity. Method: In this research, quasi experimental with pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group design was used. From all the women with husbands’ infidelity who referred to two counseling centers and a psychiatric office in Shiraz, 30 women were selected and were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (10 each). The two experimental groups received Rational, Emotional and Behavioral therapy (REBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the control group did not receive any intervention. All participants completed the Forgiveness Questionnaire (FQ) in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Results: The results showed that the two treatments increase forgiveness (p<0/01) and neither is superior to the other (p> 0/05). Conclusions: Therefore It can be concluded that in despite of the difference between content and process of the two approaches of rational-emotional-behavioral therapy (REBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), it seems that elements such as emotional discharge, hope and universal experience which are things that are common to both therapies, are the factors that could have influence on the rise of forgiveness, and therapists can use both treatment approaches equally to increase forgiveness in women affected by infidelity.