An apology after an offensive comment increased willingness to forgive
The apology mattered more when the new relationship seemed less valuable, in an online scenario involving 971 adults.
The key idea
In this staged scenario, the apology increased willingness to forgive, especially when the new relationship seemed less valuable.
The study, in plain language
Imagine you write an essay and someone you have just met responds with an offensive comment. That was the situation the team set up in an online interaction. Some participants then received an apology and others did not, while the scenario also made the new relationship seem more or less valuable.
Those who received the apology said they were more willing to forgive, especially when the relationship still seemed less important. When the relationship was already valued, the difference was smaller. The apology also slightly increased preference for interacting again with the person who had offended them. Because assignment was random, the difference can be attributed to the apology within this staged scenario.
What they found
- Participants read an offensive comment about their essay and, in some cases, a prepared apology.
- Those who received the apology said they were more willing to forgive.
- The difference was smaller when the scenario already presented the relationship as valuable.
Something to think about
Think about the last time someone apologized to you: how much did the apology matter, and how much did the value you placed on that person matter? In this experiment, both counted.
How they studied it
In an online experiment whose analysis plan was announced in advance, 971 adults in the United States were randomly assigned to four groups: with or without an apology, and with the new relationship presented as more or less valuable. Everyone received a prepared offensive comment about an essay they had written, then reported how much they forgave and whether they wanted to interact again.
What the study cannot show
- The sample came from an online platform in the United States.
- The comment and apology were written in advance.
- Responses depended on what participants reported and do not show how real conflicts are resolved.
The original study
Experimental evidence that apologies promote forgiveness by communicating relationship value
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
