Bitirilmemiş İşler ile Öfke, Suçluluk, Utanç ve Affetme Arasındaki İlişkilerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Unfinished business is one of the fundamental concepts of Gestalt therapy. In this research, relationships among unfinished business, anger, guilt, shame, and forgiveness were analyzed. Unfinished Business Scale (UBS) was developed beforehand, since there has not been any scale to measure one’s unfinished business. All study groups were randomly selected from departments placed in Beytepe Campus of Hacettepe University. After the pilot study, finalized item pool was given to 1035 (611 women, 424 men) students to analyze construct validity of the UBS and reliability of its scores. Scale validity was supported by the explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses. The total scale internal consistency (stratified alpha) of the UBS was calculated as 0.95 and subscale Cronbach alpha coefficients ranged between 0.68-0.92. Test-retest reliability of the UBS total scale and subscale scores was also calculated within 0.54-0.78 interval in two, three- and four-weeks intervals. For the second part, a booklet that includes UBS with brief information form, ‘Cognitions about Anger’ subscale of Multidimensional Anger Scale, Trait Guilt and Shame Scale, and Heartland Forgiveness Scale was given to 604 (370 women, 234 men) students. Utilizing structural equation modeling and path analyses, relationships among constructs measured by these scales were analyzed. In conclusion, statistically significant correlations were found between model variables. Results also showed that unfinished business scores predicted anger, guilt, shame and forgiveness scores; furthermore, guilt scores predicted forgiveness scores. Results were discussed from theoretical perspective of Gestalt therapy. Based on the results, several recommendations for researchers and psychological counselors were also included.