Apologies: Words of magic? The role of verbal components, anger reduction, and offence severity

More elements in an apology bought more forgiveness, especially for a severe offence --- and it worked by reducing anger.

Kirchhoff, J., Wagner, U. & Strack, M. (2012). Apologies: Words of magic? The role of verbal components, anger reduction, and offence severity. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 18(2), 109–130.

Type

Journal article

Find it

doi.org/10.1037/a0028092

Checked

Against the abstract, 16 September 2026

Why it is on the list

Two experimental vignette studies in Germany. Study 1 found that including more verbal elements in an apology increased forgiveness, especially after a more severe offence, and that the relationship between an apology’s completeness and forgiveness was mediated by anger reduction. Study 2 found that for a more severe offence four elements were particularly relevant: conveying emotions, admitting fault, a statement of apology such as “I apologize,” and an attempt at explanation.

Week 5’s template includes an explicit apology and a short explanation after the ownership. The evidence here comes from two vignette studies in one country.