What happens when groups say sorry? : The effects of intergroup apologies for their recipients

ISBN-13: 9783639151121 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 300 str.

Catherine Philpot

Opis

Intergroup apologies have been provided as reparationfor all manner of offences from genocidal massacresto prejudicial government policies. Yet, for eachcircumstance in which apologies are offered, thereare others in which apologies are not given thoughvictim groups demand them. The frequency ofintergroup apologies and requests suggests that theseare important and not without cost. Yet, little isknown of the actual effectiveness of intergroupapologies for victim groups. This research representsan attempt to answer this question.Surveys assessing awareness of Japan''s apologies forWorld War II were conducted in Australia, thePhilippines and Malaysia. A series of laboratoryexperiments were also conducted to establish ifsignificant differences in forgiveness arise afterthe delivery of an apology. Taken together, theresults give a measured view of the usefulness ofintergroup apologies in promoting intergroupforgiveness.

O autorze

Dr. Philpot has a background in social and clinical psychology.
Her interest in intergroup apologies and forgiveness is a product
of her times. Coming of age as an academic at a time when calls
for an apology to the Australian Aboriginal Stolen Generations
grew to a crescendo, her work seeks to understand what role
apologies play between groups.