Two noted researchers at the University of California at Davis, Professors Michael R. Levenson and Carolyn M. Aldwin, completed a three-year grant research study in 2002 in which participants were tested four times:

Before the 8-day Process

A week or two afterwards

Three months later

One year later

These results were compared to a control group. The researchers believe that this may be the first formal scientific evaluation of what they term an ‘alternative therapy’.

Submission of Research Their study has been submitted for publication and they have already reported on their findings at the American Psychological Association National Convention in Toronto on August 9 2003. Drs. Levenson and Aldwin also made presentations at the Society for Research in Adult Development in Tampa, Florida, in April 2003 and the Western Psychological Association in Vancouver, British Columbia, in May 2003.

Lasting Change Their research shows two important dimensions of change resulting from the Hoffman Quadrinity Process (HQP):

Strong lasting effects for reduction of negative affect, specifically depression, hostility, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and interpersonal sensitivity; Strong lasting effects for increase of positive affect, specifically, spirituality, empathy, emotional intelligence, forgiveness and life satisfaction.

Consistent with these changes in affect, self-reported ‘general health, energy and vitality’ also went up and stayed up significantly.

Although long-term reductions of negative affect from the Hoffman Quadrinity Process were documented in a 1997 research study by Windhausen at the University of Munich, Germany, what surprised Professors Aldwin and Levenson is that nowhere in the literature could they find mention of an intervention that caused both lasting decreases in negative affect and lasting increases in positive affect. In October 2002, Professors Levenson and Aldwin informally shared their findings with the Hoffman Institute USA Board of Trustees.

Curious to learn more about the possible relationship of decreasing negative affect and increasing positive affect, Professor Levenson has since gone on to perform a more fine-grained analysis of his data. In early May 2003, Raz Ingrasci president of Hoffman Institute USA visited him and Dr. Aldwin at their University offices in Davis. They told him that as a result of this next level of analysis, they could now say that the increases in spirituality and forgiveness in the Hoffman Process predict the decreases in depression.

Long-term Predictors for Depression Of course, forgiveness and spirituality are generally believed to be positively related to mental health. It is simply not possible to be compassionate and hostile at the same time. These research findings, however, show that increases in spirituality and forgiveness can predict long-term decreases in depression.

Thus, reductions in negative affect (i.e. Emotional healing) occur when people awaken to or deepen their own multifaceted spirituality and learn to give that spirituality practical application in their daily lives. The design and intent of the Hoffman Quadrinity Process is to bring this about.

Spirituality and religion All the many facets of spirituality and religious beliefs are carefully cultivated for participants in the Hoffman Process.

References: Aldwin, C.M. Levenson, M.R., and Yancura, L. (May 2003). Evaluating an Alternative Psychotherapy: The Hoffman Quadrinity Process. Presentation made at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association, Vancouver in Summer 2003.