Active conflict makes apologies self-defeating for those who offer them.
Evidence
Moreover, when a conflict is in full flame, as it is now, each side is likely to view the other with exceedingly high levels of distrust. This presents two additional obstacles to socio-emotional reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. First, under such conditions apologies are likely to do more harm than good because many on both sides will perceive such apologies as being disingenuous. Second, in order for the apology-forgiveness cycle to be complete and successful, the side that is apologized to must “cancel” the apologizer’s debt by reciprocating with forgiveness or acknowledging its own offenses in turn. Without this trust, the apology may be selfdefeating for the side that offers it (Tavuchis, 1991). — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1547
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Distrusting adversaries should build trust before attempting past-focused apologies. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1523; Intergroup apologies can make relations worse without preexisting trust. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 1487; Perceived insincere apologies backfire while unequivocal ones can advance peace. — Scott Atran, The Devoted Actor: Unconditional…, 42 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Perceived insincere apologies backfire while unequivocal ones can advance peace.
#expands(0.80) — Scott Atran, The Devoted Actor, 42 - Escalating conflict reduces in-group acknowledgment of past wrongdoings
#corroborates(0.78) — Sonia Roccas and Yechiel Klar and Ido Liviatan, The Paradox of Group-Based Guilt, 130 - Group apologies create shared ground for discussing negative history
#qualifies(0.72) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 1111