28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

played different roles. Qualitative research also showed that apologizing differed by culture, age,
and forgiveness judgments. Study 3 investigated reconciliation strategies longitudinally in the
context of close relationship forgiveness. Implications for conflict resolution are discussed.
2016.2 Conventional expressions of apology in Japanese, S. Okamoto, Aichi Gakuin University,
Aichi, Japan
In this presentation I will address conventional expressions of apology (e.g. Sumimasen) in the
Japanese language. I will point out, by presenting the results of experiments on verbal expressions
of request and gratitude, that these expressions are frequently used in situations in which the
speaker has not done any substantial damage to the hearer. After speculating on possible
motivations for these usages, I will raise the possibility that the "abuse" of these conventional
apologetic expressions has devaluated their effects in situations involving real conflicts.
2016.4 A cross-cultural examination of perceptions of apology, responsibility, and justice: The
U.S.S. Greenville accident and the E-P3 airplane accident, S. Takaku 1 , Y.T. Lee 2 , B. Weiner 3 , K.
Ohbuchi 4 , 1 Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA; 2 Minnesota State University,
Mankato, MN, USA; 3 University of California; Los Angeles, CA, USA; 4 Tohoku University,
Sendai, Japan
This paper examines the cultural effects on in-group biases in people’s perceptions of apology,
responsibility, and justice as they relate to the two international incidents, the U.S.S. Greenville
incident (study 1) and the American E-P3 incident (study 2). The results from study 1 indicated
that the unnecessary escalation of the incident was partially caused by in-group biases displayed
by both sides and culturally specific meaning of apology. The results of study 2 further confirmed
that in-group biases held by the two sides played a major role in the escalation of the conflict.
Implications for future inter-group conflicts are discussed.
2016.5 Egocentric and altruistic motives of forgiveness in interpersonal conflicts, K. Ohbuchi,
N. Takada, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Assuming that forgiveness is motivated by both egocentric and altruistic concerns, we constructed
21 items to measure them. We had Japanese students rate their interpersonal conflict episodes, in
which they were harmed by someone, in terms of forgiveness and the motive items. A
factor-analysis revealed 6 motive dimensions: social acceptance, relationship maintenance,
avoidance of stress, social harmony, non-involvement, and empathy. Among them, only empathy
is altruistic and the others are egocentric. Acceptance, relationship maintenance, social harmony,
and empathy positively correlated with forgiving behavior for the harm-doer. These results are
consistent with our assumption.
2017 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
Applications of psychology to public policy: Part I
Convener and Chair: J. Berry, Canada
2017.1 Implications of Advances in Health Psychology for Policy and Intervention, S. Hobfoll 1 ,
E. Greenglass 2 , K. Moore 3 , K. Noguchi 4 , S. Pick 5 , R. Schwarzer 6 , 1 Kent State University, Kent,
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