This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Philpot, C. R. Articles by Hornsey, M. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Philpot, C. R. Articles by Hornsey, M. J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

What Happens When Groups Say Sorry: The Effect of Intergroup Apologies on Their Recipients

University of Queensland, Australia

Matthew J. Hornsey

University of Queensland, Australia, m.hornsey{at}uq.edu.au

Despite the increased incidence of intergroup apology in public life, very little empirical attention has been paid to the questions of whether intergroup apologies work and if so, why. In a series of experiments, Australians read scenarios in which Australian interests had been harmed by an outgroup. Participants were then told that the outgroup had either apologized or had not apologized for the offense. Although the presence of an apology helped promote perceptions that the outgroup was remorseful, and although participants were more satisfied with an apology than with no apology, the presence of the apology failed to promote forgiveness for the offending group. This was the case regardless of whether the effectiveness of apology was measured cross-sectionally (Experiment 1) or longitudinally (Experiment 2). It was also the case when the apology was accompanied by victims advocating forgiveness (Experiment 3) and was independent of the emotionality of the apology (Experiment 4). In contrast, individuals who apologized for intergroup atrocities were personally forgiven more than those who did not apologize (Experiment 4). Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

Key Words: forgiveness • apologies • intergroup relations

References

• Aiken, L.S., & West, S.G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. London: Sage.
• Batson, C.D., Polycarpou, M.P., Harmon-Jones, E., Imhoff, H.J., Mitchener, E.C., Bednar, L.L., et al. (1997). Empathy and attitudes: Can feeling for a member of a stigmatized group improve feelings toward the group? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 105-118.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Blum-Kulka, S., House, J., & Kasper, G. (1989). Cross-cultural pragmatics: Requests and apologies (Vol. 31). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
• Brooks, R.L. (1999). When sorry isn't enough: The controversy over apologies and reparations for human injustice. New York: New York University Press.
• Darby, B.W., & Schlenker, B.R. (1982). Children's reactions to apologies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 742-753.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Darby, B.W., & Schlenker, B.R. (1989). Children's reactions to transgressions: Effects of the actor's apology, reputation and remorse. British Journal of Social Psychology, 28, 353-364.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Enright, R.D., Rique, J., & Coyle, C.T. (2000). The Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) user's manual. Madison WI: International Forgiveness Institute.
• Exline, J.J., & Baumeister, R.F. (2000). Expressing forgiveness and repentance: Benefits and barriers. In M. E. McCullough, K. I. Pargament, & C. E. Thoresen (Eds.), Forgiveness: Theory, research and practice (pp.133-155). New York: Guilford.
• Exline, J.J., Baumeister, R.F., Bushman, B.J., Campbell, W.K., & Finkel, E.J. (2004). Too proud to let go: Narcissistic entitlement as a barrier to forgiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 894-912.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Exline, J.J., Worthington, E.L., Hill, P., & McCullough, M.E. (2003). Forgiveness and justice: A research agenda for social and personality psychology. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 337-348.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Gold, G.J., & Weiner, B. (2000). Remorse, confession, group identity, and expectancies about repeating a transgression. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 22, 291-300.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Gonzales, M.H. (1992). A thousand pardons: The effectiveness of verbal remedial tactics during account episodes. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 11, 133-151.
• Govier, T., & Verwoerd, W. (2002). The promise and pitfalls of apology. Journal of Social Philosophy, 33, 67-82.[CrossRef]
• Hewstone, M., Cairns, E., Voci, A., McLernon, F., Niens, U., & Noor, M. (2004). Intergroup forgiveness and guilt in Northern Ireland: Social psychological dimensions of "The Troubles." In N. R. Branscombe & B. Doosje (Eds.), Collective guilt: International perspectives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Hodgins, H.S., & Liebeskind, E. (2003). Apology versus defence: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 297-316.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Kadiangandu, J.K., & Mullet, E. (2006). Requesting intergroup forgiveness: A Congolese perspective. In M. Bullock (Ed.), Forgiveness: A sampling of research results (pp. 29-31). New York: United Nations.
• Kaminer, D., Stein, D.J., Mbanga, I., & Zungu-Dirwayi, N. (2000). Forgiveness: Toward an integration of theoretical models. Psychiatry, 63, 344-357.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Lane, B. (2000, August 9). Sorry, the legal liability is overstated. The Australian.
• Lazare, A. (2004). On apology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
• McCullough, M.E., Fincham, F.D., & Tsang, J.A. (2003). Forgiveness, forbearance, and time: The temporal unfolding of transgression-related interpersonal motivations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 540-557.[ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• McCullough, M.E., Pargament, K.I., & Thoresen, C.E. (2000). Forgiveness: Theory, research and practice. New York: Guilford.
• McCullough, M.E., Rachal, K.C., Sandage, S.J., Worthington, E.L., Brown, S.W., & Hight, T.L. (1998). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships: II. Theoretical elaboration and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1586-1603.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• McCullough, M.E., Worthington, E.L., & Rachal, K.C. (1997). Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 321-326.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• McLernon, F., Cairns, E., & Hewstone, M. (2002). Views on forgiveness in Northern Ireland. Peace Review, 14, 285-290.[CrossRef]
• McLernon, F., Cairns, E., Hewstone, M., & Smith, R. (2004). The development of intergroup forgiveness in Northern Ireland. Journal of Social Issues, 60, 587-601.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Nadler, A., & Liviatan, I. (2006). Intergroup reconciliation: Effects of adversary's expressions of empathy responsibility and recipients' trust. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 459-470.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• O'Malley, M.N., & Greenberg, J. (1983). Sex differences in restoring justice: The down payment effect. Journal of Research in Personality, 17, 174-185.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Philpot, C.R., & Hornsey, M.J. (2006). Asking forgiveness for the sins of many: Does it work? In M. Bullock (Ed.), Forgiveness: A sampling of research results (pp. 24-25). New York: United Nations.
• Reed, A., & Aquino, K.F. (2003). Moral identity and the expanding circle of moral regard toward outgroups. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1270-1286.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Risen, J.L., & Gilovich, T. (2007). Target and observer differences in the acceptance of questionable apologies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 418-433.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Schmitt, M., Gollwitzer, M., Forster, N., & Montada, L. (2004). Effects of objective and subjective account components on forgiving. Journal of Social Psychology, 144, 465-485.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Takaku, S. (2001). The effects of apology and perspective taking on interpersonal forgiveness: A dissonance-attribution model of interpersonal forgiveness. Journal of Social Psychology, 141, 494-508.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
• Tavuchis, N. (1991). Mea culpa: A sociology of apology and reconciliation. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
• Tomlinson, E.C., Dineen, B.R., & Lewicki, R.J. (2004). The road to reconciliation: Antecedents of victim willingness to reconcile following a broken promise. Journal of Management, 30, 165-187.[Abstract]
• Tutu, D. (1993). Bishopscourt Update Item (No. 500). Cape Town: Church of the Province of Southern Africa.
• Walster, E., Berscheid, E., & Walster, G.W. (1973). New directions in equity research. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 25, 151-176.[CrossRef][ISI]
• Witvliet, C., Ludwig, T.E., & Van der Laan, K.L. (2001). Granting forgiveness or harboring grudges: Implications for emotion, physiology and health. Psychological Science, 12, 117-123.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

CiteULike

Connotea

Del.icio.us

Digg

Reddit

Technorati

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Philpot, C. R. Articles by Hornsey, M. J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Philpot, C. R. Articles by Hornsey, M. J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?