Using attribution theory, this study examined the effects of apology timing, apology
sincerity, and feeling understood on communication satisfaction and changes in negative
emotions (e.g., anger and sadness) during conflict discussions. Sixty romantic couples
engaged in conversations about recurring disagreements in their relationships. One
partner from each couple apologized either earlier or later during the discussions. The
findings showed that different variability existed between the timing of the apology
and reports of communication satisfaction. Later apologies, rather than earlier apologies,
given during conflict discussions that were completed in less than 10 minutes were
associated with more communication satisfaction. Earlier apologies, rather than later
apologies, given during conflict discussions that could have continued past 10 minutes
were associated with more communication satisfaction. Additionally, reports of feeling
understood and apology sincerity predicted communication satisfaction and apologies
seen as more sincere were related to reports of less hard negative emotions such as anger,
but were not related to reports of soft negative emotions, such as sadness. These findings
have implications for the process of forgiveness and the mediation of disputes.
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