What makes people decide whether an apology is worthy of forgiveness? According to an article in yesterday’s Washington Post, there’s a huge body of research that explores this very subject. We are often counseling our clients on how to deal with a crisis and take responsibility for their actions.
There are many factors that lead to whether people are willing to forgive and forget. The article points to one in particular that I found interesting: Is the initial act viewed as intentional or a mistake? The author uses the example of Anthony Weiner and suggests that the reason people wouldn’t forgive his behavior is because it came across as intended. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, was able to transcend past harassment allegations by suggesting that he didn’t understand his behavior was perceived as anything other than playful. This was, of course, before his more recent scandals for which he hasn’t been forgiven.
It’s an interesting finding and one that will make me think as we help our clients navigate crisis situations. But I have a hard time thinking of how Anthony Weiner could have sold his sexting controversy as unintentional.