Back Into The Fold: The Influence of Offender Amends and Victim Forgiveness on Reintegration

Abstract

After a transgression has occurred within an organization, the process of reconciliation often involves both offender amends and victim forgiveness (two key aspects of restorative justice). However, beyond reconciliation, reintegration depends on the views of organizational peers and other third-party stakeholders. Across two studies, we demonstrate that the success of reintegration follows from both the offender making appropriate amends and the victim forgiving those amends, which is primarily based on participants viewing victims as having experienced closure. In addition, we show the perils of a victim’s refusing to accept appropriate amends; unforgiving victims are not welcomed back into the organizational fold and are disliked overall because their refusal violates expectations and signals that they are a difficult person. Thus, reintegration requires both offenders and victims to do their part, and both may suffer the consequences of failing to meet peer expectations. Implications for restorative j...