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# A Cross-cultural Examination Of The Effects Of Apology And Perspective Taking On Forgiveness

## Details

**Authors** Takaku et al.

**Year** 2001

**Publisher** Journal Of Language And Social Psychology

**Discipline** Sociology

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1177/0261927X01020001007) 
10.1177/0261927X01020001007

## In authors' words

### Abstract

Guided by Robinson’s general belief that polite language yields trust from others, the authors examined the likelihood of apology acceptance in two cultures (Japan and the United States).Prior to reading a scenario in which they were to imagine being mistreated by their classmates, the participants were randomly assigned to one of three perspective-taking conditions: (a) recall times when they mistreated or hurt others in the past; (b) imagine how the victimized classmate would think, feel, and behave in the scenario; or (c) imagine the situation as the personal victim. Participants then read the scenario, which was followed by an elaborate apology from the classmate. Results from both cultures indicated that, compared with the participants in the control condition, the participants in the recall-self-as-wrongdoer condition were significantly more likely to accept the apology from the classmate and forgive the transgression. Expected and unexpected cultural differences also were found.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To research the effects of perspective taking on apology and forgiveness in both Western and Eastern societies.

### What they found (results)

Their results showed that when the participants took the perspective of the offender, they were “significantly more” likely to accept the offender’s apology.

## Commentary

### In short

Apologies are one of the main ways conflict is resolved in today’s world. This research demonstrates that taking another person’s perspective can lead to apologies, forgiveness, and a better understanding of one another.

### In more detail

Takaku et al 2001 researched the effects of perspective taking on apology and forgiveness in both Western and Eastern societies. Specifically, they looked at how much perspective-taking impacted apology acceptance in Japanese and American cultures. In order to test this, the 77 Japanese participants and the 102 American participants in the study were asked to read a short blurb where they were instructed to imagine that they were being mistreated by their classmates. Before they did this however, the participants were “randomly assigned to one of three perspective-taking conditions: (a) recall times when they mistreated or hurt others in the past; (b) imagine how the victimized classmate would think, feel, and behave in the scenario; or (c) imagine the situation as the personal victim.” After being given their instructions, the participants read their passages all of which were completed by a detailed apology from the classmate. Their results showed that when the participants took the perspective of the offender, they were “significantly more” likely to accept the offender’s apology. Apologies are one of the main ways conflict is resolved in today’s world. This research demonstrates that taking another person’s perspective can lead to apologies, forgiveness, and a better understanding of one another.

**Patterns it shows** P

**How to cite this** Takaku et al. (2001). A Cross-cultural Examination Of The Effects Of Apology And Perspective Taking On Forgiveness. Journal Of Language And Social Psychology.