'I Make No Apology' : The Psychological Benefits of Refusing to Apologize

Despite an understanding of the perception and consequences of apologies for their recipients, little is known about the consequences of apologies (or their denial) for the offending actor. In two empirical studies employing both correlational and experimental methods, we examined the unexplored psychological consequences that follow from a harm-doer’s refusal to apologize. Results showed that the act of refusing to apologize resulted in greater self-esteem than not refusing to apologize. Moreover, the effect of apology refusal on self-esteem was mediated by increased feelings of power/control and value integrity. These findings reveal that non-cooperative responses to conflict may have beneficial consequences for the self. The implications of these findings for understanding how basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy and self-consistency) might affect an offender’s decision to apologize are also discussed