The Apology Mismatch: Asymmetries Between Victim’s Need for Apologies and Perpetrator’s Willingness to Apologize
Do people apologize at the right time? New research by the ECBE shows that this may not be the case. In situations in which victims particularly want an apology, when they were intentionally offended, offenders are the least motivated to offer an apology. Ironically, when victims do not desire an apology much, after being accidently offended, offenders are especially motivated to apologize. This research provides as with new insights into the hardships of conflict resolution as victims and offenders often have very different perspectives on when an apology should be offered. Managers, who are often confronted with conflicts, can use this research to better understand when and why people want to reconcile and when these desires and not in line.
