Apology as aggression control: Its role in mediating appraisal of and response to harm.

TLDR

The study examined how apologies affect victims’ aggression and the underlying psychological mechanisms. Study 1 had female undergraduates experience psychological harm and receive an apology from another female, while Study 2 had male undergraduates role‑play victims in a hypothetical harm scenario. Apologies reduced severe aggression, with effects mediated by improved impressions, emotional mitigation, and lower desire for apology; however, the effect weakened with more severe harm, suggesting larger apologies may be needed for severe cases.

Abstract

Two studies examined the effects of an apology on a victim's aggression and explored the psychological mechanisms underlying such effects. In Study 1, female undergraduates were psychologically harmed and then received an apology by another female student. In Study 2, male undergraduates were asked to role play a victim in a hypothetical harm situation. Results indicate that when the harm-doers apologized, as opposed to when they did not, the victim-subjects refrained from severe aggression against them. Regression analyses suggested that such aggression-inhibitory effects of an apology were mediated by impression improvement, emotional mitigation, and reduction in desire for an apology within the victims. It was also found that when the harm was severe, such effects of an apology on aggression were attenuated. The more severe the harm is, the more extensive of an apology may be needed to alleviate the victim's anger and aggression.