Judgments of Plausibility and Emotional Reactions to Excuses

Authors

  • Renan Benigno Saraiva Universidade de Brasília
  • Fabio Iglesias Universidade de Brasília

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v17i2.28496

Keywords:

excuses, impression management, causal attribution.

Abstract

Excuses are frequently used to minimize internal causal attributions when social obligations are not fullfilled. This research investigated judgments of plausibility and emotional reactions to excuses, as well as their acceptability. One hundred and fifty five college students gave their ratings on several scenarios of excuse giving for routine situations. Situations involving motives perceived as legitimate received higher scores of plausibility and positive emotional reactions, followed by situations perceived as controllable, and those of internal causes. Results are discussed in the light of the impression management literature and its efficacy in maintaining informal bondings.

Author Biographies

Renan Benigno Saraiva, Universidade de Brasília

 

 

Fabio Iglesias, Universidade de Brasília

 

 

How to Cite

Saraiva, R. B., & Iglesias, F. (2013). Judgments of Plausibility and Emotional Reactions to Excuses. Interação Em Psicologia, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v17i2.28496

Issue

Section

Research Reports