ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the close connection between guilt, atonement and forgiveness, so deeply rooted in the mental life. The sequence of guilt, atonement, and forgiveness is an omnipotent manoeuvre of the ego at the behest of the superego to safeguard a wish-fulfilling fantasy that precludes reality, a repetition compulsion, unconsciously motivated and outside the realm of reality and genuine love. Rado describes the process of internalisation of penance and forgiveness as a way for the child to win the love of parents by unconsciously producing their anticipated punishment vis-a-vis the aggressive self in need of forgiveness. Forgiveness, when it entails a harsh superego operating in a culture of hatred, is no longer a value-laden concept. Reaching the capacity to forgive is simply a psychological accomplishment of developing a realistic relationship to people's emotions and understanding their embeddedness in human frailties and vulnerabilities. The positive regulatory function of the superego potentially translates into forgiveness.
