Part 4/9:
The Role of Apology and Remorse in Forgiveness
One of Vaish’s experiments involved children drawing and then having their pictures torn by two experimenters. One experimenter expressed remorse, apologizing for tearing the picture, while the other remained neutral. The findings showed that children as young as five clearly preferred the experimenter who showed remorse. This demonstrates that expressions of remorse are a key factor in eliciting forgiveness and maintaining positive social bonds.
Apologies and displays of remorse serve as signals of a transgressor’s commitment to repairing the relationship. When children see someone acknowledge their wrongdoing and show remorse, they are more inclined to forgive and continue their relationship with that individual.