Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts
Transgressions and injustice are an inevitable part of social life, both in interactions between individuals and between groups. But whereas conflict between individuals typically impacts only few, conflict between groups can be harmful to many – as is illustrated by disputes between nations, politi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2021-07-01
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| Series: | International Review of Social Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/479 |
| _version_ | 1818888326557466624 |
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| author | Christopher P. Reinders Folmer Tim Wildschut Tessa Haesevoets Jonas De keersmaecker Jasper Van Assche Paul A. M. Van Lange |
| author_facet | Christopher P. Reinders Folmer Tim Wildschut Tessa Haesevoets Jonas De keersmaecker Jasper Van Assche Paul A. M. Van Lange |
| author_sort | Christopher P. Reinders Folmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transgressions and injustice are an inevitable part of social life, both in interactions between individuals and between groups. But whereas conflict between individuals typically impacts only few, conflict between groups can be harmful to many – as is illustrated by disputes between nations, political parties, and social groups. For this reason, it is crucial to understand how such transgressions can be restored. In interpersonal contexts, there is considerable evidence that apologies can restore transgressions and enable victims and perpetrators to reconcile. It is unknown, however, to what extent their remedial effectiveness may translate to conflicts between groups. The present research illuminates this question. In an experimental study ('N' = 272), we compared the effectiveness of apologies for restoring trust after transgressions between individuals or groups. Results revealed that both in interpersonal and intergroup contexts, apologies significantly increased trust. However, their impact was greater in interpersonal interactions (where they fully restored trust to its pre-transgression level) than in intergroup interactions (where they failed to fully restore trust). Furthermore, the effectiveness of apologies was shaped by their emotional content. In disputes between individuals, only apologies with secondary emotions fully restored trust. Conversely, in disputes between groups, neither apologies with primary emotions nor those with secondary emotions fully restored trust. This was explained by greater skepticism of apologies in intergroup contexts, particularly of apologies with secondary emotions. These findings underline that intergroup interactions are more competitive and distrusting than interpersonal interactions, and suggest that more extensive remedies may be required to reduce intergroup tensions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:51:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d818909935db4e23b29f7ff9f126f7d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-8570 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T16:51:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Review of Social Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d818909935db4e23b29f7ff9f126f7d22022-12-21T20:13:32ZengUbiquity PressInternational Review of Social Psychology2397-85702021-07-0134110.5334/irsp.479118Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup ContextsChristopher P. Reinders Folmer0Tim Wildschut1Tessa Haesevoets2Jonas De keersmaecker3Jasper Van Assche4Paul A. M. Van Lange5University of AmsterdamUniversity of SouthamptonGhent UniversityUniversitat Ramon Llull, Esade Business SchoolGhent UniversityVU University AmsterdamTransgressions and injustice are an inevitable part of social life, both in interactions between individuals and between groups. But whereas conflict between individuals typically impacts only few, conflict between groups can be harmful to many – as is illustrated by disputes between nations, political parties, and social groups. For this reason, it is crucial to understand how such transgressions can be restored. In interpersonal contexts, there is considerable evidence that apologies can restore transgressions and enable victims and perpetrators to reconcile. It is unknown, however, to what extent their remedial effectiveness may translate to conflicts between groups. The present research illuminates this question. In an experimental study ('N' = 272), we compared the effectiveness of apologies for restoring trust after transgressions between individuals or groups. Results revealed that both in interpersonal and intergroup contexts, apologies significantly increased trust. However, their impact was greater in interpersonal interactions (where they fully restored trust to its pre-transgression level) than in intergroup interactions (where they failed to fully restore trust). Furthermore, the effectiveness of apologies was shaped by their emotional content. In disputes between individuals, only apologies with secondary emotions fully restored trust. Conversely, in disputes between groups, neither apologies with primary emotions nor those with secondary emotions fully restored trust. This was explained by greater skepticism of apologies in intergroup contexts, particularly of apologies with secondary emotions. These findings underline that intergroup interactions are more competitive and distrusting than interpersonal interactions, and suggest that more extensive remedies may be required to reduce intergroup tensions.https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/479apologytrustreconciliationforgivenessintergroup relationsinterpersonal relations |
| spellingShingle | Christopher P. Reinders Folmer Tim Wildschut Tessa Haesevoets Jonas De keersmaecker Jasper Van Assche Paul A. M. Van Lange Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts International Review of Social Psychology apology trust reconciliation forgiveness intergroup relations interpersonal relations |
| title | Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts |
| title_full | Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts |
| title_fullStr | Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts |
| title_short | Repairing Trust Between Individuals and Groups: The Effectiveness of Apologies in Interpersonal and Intergroup Contexts |
| title_sort | repairing trust between individuals and groups the effectiveness of apologies in interpersonal and intergroup contexts |
| topic | apology trust reconciliation forgiveness intergroup relations interpersonal relations |
| url | https://www.rips-irsp.com/articles/479 |
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