Abstract
The main goal of the present research is to examine socio-ecological hypothesis on apology and compensation. Specifically, we conducted four studies to test the idea that an apology is an effective means to induce reconciliation in a residentially stable community, whereas compensation is an effective means in a residentially mobile community. In Studies 1, 2a, and 2b, American and Japanese participants (national difference in mobility; Study 1) or non-movers and movers (within-nation difference in mobility; Studies 2a and 2b) imagined the situations in which they were hurt by their friends and rated to what extent they would be willing to maintain their friendships upon receipt of apology or compensation. The results showed that compensation was more effective in appeasing residentially mobile people (i.e., Americans and movers) than stable people (i.e., Japanese and non-movers), while apology was slightly more effective appeasing residentially stable people than residentially mobile people (significant in Study 1; not significant in Studies 2a and 2b). In Study 3, by conducting an economics game experiment, we directly tested the hypothesis that mobility would impair the effectiveness of apology and enhance the effectiveness of compensation. The results again partially supported our hypothesis: In the high mobility condition, compensation increased one’s willingness to continue the relationship with the offender, when compared to willingness in the low mobility condition. The importance of socio-ecological perspective on the forgiveness literature is discussed.
Highlights
Occasional offenses are inescapable in any relationship
Our central prediction was that apology would be more effective than compensation in Japan. Study 2a (Japan), whereas compensation would be more effective than apology in the United States
We hypothesized that (i) both Japanese and Americans would be more willing to reconcile with the offender in the AN condition than in the NN condition, but the apology effect would be larger for Japanese than Americans, (ii) both Japanese and Americans would be more willing to reconcile with the offender in the NC condition than in the NN condition, but the compensation effect would be larger for Americans than Japanese, and (iii) both Americans and Japanese would be more willing to reconcile with the offender in the AC condition than in the NN condition, and the size of the effect would not differ between United States and Japan1
Summary
Occasional offenses are inescapable in any relationship. time heals most hurt feelings. Apology or compensation or both is often needed for the victims to fully forgive offensives. Given the importance of the interpersonal reconciliation processes (including apology, compensation, and forgiveness) in the maintenance of relationships, it has been actively investigated in social psychology Psychological research on forgiveness has shown that reconciliatory tendencies and tactics vary substantially across individuals (Howell et al, 2011, 2012) and cultures (Fukuno and Ohbuchi, 1998; Maddux et al, 2011). The aim of the present study is to understand the variation of reconciliatory tendencies in terms of adaptation to socioecological environments. Four studies tested whether residential mobility would modify the effectiveness of apology vs. compensation as reconciliation tactics
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