When saying sorry is not enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors.
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| Title: | When saying sorry is not enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors. |
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| Authors: | Foran, Aoife‐Marie (AUTHOR), O'Donnell, Aisling T. (AUTHOR), Moroney, Dearbhla (AUTHOR), Muldoon, Orla T. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Political Psychology. Apr2025, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p397-413. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Discursive psychology, Intergroup relations, Ingroups (Social groups), Irish people, Civil service positions, Apologizing |
| Abstract: | While political apologies cannot undo what has been done, they are often perceived as highly relevant for healing and reconciliation. However, these apologies are often mired in controversy and highly political. While research on political apologies has focused on the role of intergroup relations, limited research has explored the intragroup dynamics involved. The present article explores how the paradoxical features of a political apology to ingroup members have their source in partisanship. The analysis used methods derived from discursive psychology. Using data from six parliamentary statements that were given in response to the political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors, we demonstrated how these speakers constructed and understood the apology and how these constructions relate to their own political positions. Specifically, the apology to mothers and babies is used for political purpose, allowing majority members of government to position the wrongdoings experienced by mothers and babies in the past and to encourage the national collective to move on. Others seeking progressive social change—a parliamentary minority—use the apology to shape a political narrative that demands national collective action. Our work highlights the important role that identity‐based power relations play in confronting historical injustice, and how this may result in a dual schism with people within a nation becoming divided over both the apology and the appropriate response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 183820888 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: When saying sorry is not enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Foran%2C+Aoife‐Marie%22">Foran, Aoife‐Marie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22O'Donnell%2C+Aisling+T%2E%22">O'Donnell, Aisling T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moroney%2C+Dearbhla%22">Moroney, Dearbhla</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muldoon%2C+Orla+T%2E%22">Muldoon, Orla T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Political+Psychology%22">Political Psychology</searchLink>. Apr2025, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p397-413. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discursive+psychology%22">Discursive psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intergroup+relations%22">Intergroup relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ingroups+%28Social+groups%29%22">Ingroups (Social groups)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Irish+people%22">Irish people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civil+service+positions%22">Civil service positions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Apologizing%22">Apologizing</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: While political apologies cannot undo what has been done, they are often perceived as highly relevant for healing and reconciliation. However, these apologies are often mired in controversy and highly political. While research on political apologies has focused on the role of intergroup relations, limited research has explored the intragroup dynamics involved. The present article explores how the paradoxical features of a political apology to ingroup members have their source in partisanship. The analysis used methods derived from discursive psychology. Using data from six parliamentary statements that were given in response to the political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors, we demonstrated how these speakers constructed and understood the apology and how these constructions relate to their own political positions. Specifically, the apology to mothers and babies is used for political purpose, allowing majority members of government to position the wrongdoings experienced by mothers and babies in the past and to encourage the national collective to move on. Others seeking progressive social change—a parliamentary minority—use the apology to shape a political narrative that demands national collective action. Our work highlights the important role that identity‐based power relations play in confronting historical injustice, and how this may result in a dual schism with people within a nation becoming divided over both the apology and the appropriate response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=183820888 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/pops.13012 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 397 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Discursive psychology Type: general – SubjectFull: Intergroup relations Type: general – SubjectFull: Ingroups (Social groups) Type: general – SubjectFull: Irish people Type: general – SubjectFull: Civil service positions Type: general – SubjectFull: Apologizing Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: When saying sorry is not enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Foran, Aoife‐Marie – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: O'Donnell, Aisling T. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Moroney, Dearbhla – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Muldoon, Orla T. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0162895X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 46 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Political Psychology Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
