The Effects of Social Power and Apology on Victims' Posttransgression Responses

The purpose of this research was to test how, why, and when social power influences victims' revenge seeking, grudge holding, and forgiveness. Based on Keltner, Gruenfeld, and Anderson's (2003) power approach theory and McCullough, Kurzban, and Tabak's (2013) theorizing about revenge...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of experimental psychology. Applied 2019-03, Vol.25 (1), p.100-116
Hauptverfasser: Struthers, C. Ward, Khoury, Careen H, Phills, Curtis E, van Monsjou, Elizabeth, Guilfoyle, Joshua R, Nash, Kyle, Golenitski, Vitali, Summers, Carol
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:The purpose of this research was to test how, why, and when social power influences victims' revenge seeking, grudge holding, and forgiveness. Based on Keltner, Gruenfeld, and Anderson's (2003) power approach theory and McCullough, Kurzban, and Tabak's (2013) theorizing about revenge and forgiveness systems, we tested (a) the associations between victims' social power and revenge, grudge, and forgiveness; (b) the mediational role of approach/inhibition motivation in explaining why the associations exist; and (c) the moderating role of whether the transgressor apologizes or not in explaining the associations. Five studies (Ns = 279, 181, 154, 131, and 81) that varied in sample (undergraduate, community), research method (nonexperimental, experimental), context (laboratory, online), measures (self-reported, behavioral), and statistical method (regression, ANOVA), supported our predictions and the systematic generalizability of the effects. Applied implications are discussed. Public Significance Statement This research showed that social power and apologies differentially contribute to the reconciliation process following a transgression. It extends current theorizing by testing an overarching process model that explains how, why, and when victims respond in particular ways to transgressions. It has far reaching implications for basic and applied understanding and can be used to inform interventions and policies designed to improve the lives of individuals and groups whom have suffered transgressions such as cyber bullying, residential schools, and family and workplace violence.
ISSN:1076-898X
1939-2192
DOI:10.1037/xap0000188