Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Psychology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of North Florida

2013

Academic – UNF – Master of Arts in General Psychology; transgression; relationship; transgressor response; parasocial relationship; prior knowledge; schadenfreude; incompetence; Wrongful acts Accountability; Public opinion

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Psychology

It’S Personal And Not Just Business: The Effects Of Admitting Transgressions On The Perception Of Transgressors, Alexander Blandina Jan 2013

It’S Personal And Not Just Business: The Effects Of Admitting Transgressions On The Perception Of Transgressors, Alexander Blandina

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Three experiments examined how a transgressor’s response, once accused of a wrongdoing, alters other’s perceptions of transgressor. Study 1 investigated how a baseball player’s response to steroid usage accusations affected fans’ perceptions of him. Participants thought of the athlete more positively when he apologized for his drug usage as compared to when he denied it or provided no comment. Study 2 examined if the effects of a transgressor’s response are moderated by the transgressor’s reputation. Participants were predicted to prefer apologies over denials if they had a pre-existing positive view of the transgressor (i.e., the person was a friend and …