Target and observer differences in the acceptance of questionable apologies

Bibliographic Data

ID6207413
AuthorsJane L Risen (0000-0003-4879-1705, Cornell University), Thomas Gilovich (0000-0002-4452-3626)
Year2007
Volume92
Issue3
Pages418-433
Publication date2007-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/0022-3514.92.3.418
PMID17352601
OpenAlexW2157827762
LanguageEN
Citations received42
References cited11

Do people distinguish between sincere and insincere apologies? Because targets and observers face different constraints, we hypothesized that observers would differentiate between spontaneous and coerced apologies but that targets would not. In Studies 1 and 2 participants either received or observed a spontaneous apology, a coerced apology, or no apology, following a staged offense, and the predicted target-observer difference emerged. Studies 3-5 provided evidence in support of 3 mechanisms that contribute to this target-observer difference. Studies 3 and 4 indicate that this difference is due, in part, to a motivation to be seen positively by others and a motivation to feel good about oneself. Study 5 suggests that social scripts constrain the responses of targets more than those of observers

Observer (physics) · Perception · Scripting language · Significant difference · Social perception · Child Abuse and Trauma · Forgiveness and Related Behaviors · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Psychology · Social Psychology

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