title: Belief in the malleability of groups strengthens the tenuous link between a collective apology and intergroup forgiveness.
abstract: Although it is widely assumed that collective apologies for intergroup harms facilitate forgiveness, evidence for a strong link between the two remains elusive. In four studies we tested the proposition that the apology-forgiveness link exists, but only among people who hold an implicit belief that groups can change. In Studies 1 and 2, perceived group malleability (measured and manipulated, respectively) moderated the responses to an apology by Palestinian leadership toward Israelis: Positive responses such as forgiveness increased with greater belief in group malleability. In Study 3, university students who believed in group malleability were more forgiving of a rival university's derogatory comments in the presence (as opposed to the absence) of an apology. In Study 4, perceived perpetrator group remorse mediated the moderating effect of group malleability on the apology-forgiveness link (assessed in the context of a corporate transgression). Implications for collective apologies and movement toward reconciliation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada michael.wohl@carleton.ca.
authors.forename: Michael J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wohl
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Smadar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cohen-Chen
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.affiliation: Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caouette
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hornsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D061347:Forgiveness; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: apology; forgiveness; implicit theories; intergroup