IVE SAID IM SORRY, HAVENT I - A STUDY OF THE IDENTITY IMPLICATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS THAT APOLOGIES CREATE FOR THEIR RECIPIENTS

In contrast to previous research on apologies, which has examined thei r role in enhancing impressions of those issuing them (e.g., Darby and Schlenker, 1989), the research reported here draws upon Goffman's (19 55) analysis of the ''corrective cycle'' and is concerned with constra ints associated with the receipt of apologies. Study 1 examines the im plications for the actor of accepting, not accepting, or rejecting apo logies. It is demonstrated that across a variety of judgments, most po sitive views of the actor result when apologies are accepted; least po sitive views are associated with their rejection. A follow-up study so ught to establish whether this effect would occur under circumstances in which unconvincing apologies are rejected. Results indicate that th e apology's status (convincing versus unconvincing) has no bearing on perceptions of actors. Based on a hypothetical role-play format, Study 2 addresses the matter of whether actors experience a subjective sens e of constraint upon receipt of unsatisfactory apologies. The data sug gest that there exists a pronounced tendency to accept such apologies, though typically with conditions that would be specified to the offen der. More general implications of the data are discussed.