Family & Relationships A Science-Backed Strategy for Making an Effective Apology Learn how to make a meaningful apology. By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Published on June 04, 2021 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Friday Fix: Episode 78 More About the Podcast Every Friday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, shares the “Friday Fix”—a short episode featuring a quick, actionable tip or exercise to help you manage a specific mental health issue or concern. Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Friday Fix: Episode 78 Whether you said something out of anger and hurt your partner’s feelings or you completely forgot about a deadline for work, your next move is critical. And as tempting as it might be to downplay your mistake, minimizing your responsibility only makes things worse. You’ll risk damaging the relationship even more. But saying, “I’m sorry,” doesn’t automatically make things better. Apologies often fall short—or even make things worse. If your apology goes awry, you’ll likely meet resistance. And if things go really wrong, you might find yourself blaming the other person or telling them that they’re just being “too sensitive.” Fortunately, there are people out there who research what goes into an effective apology. And they’ve uncovered exactly what it takes to make an apology effective. In fact, when an apology is delivered well, you might make things better than they were before you messed up. So on today’s Friday Fix, I share the exact things you should say to increase the chances that your apology will be accepted. 5 Steps to a Better Apology More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Links and Resources Follow Amy Morin on Instagram Check out Amy’s books on mental strength Why It’s Important to Apologize What to Do After You Hurt Your Partner What Is Shame? By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist, and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.