Apologies hold weight. When sincere, they can bring resolution. When empty, they become tools of control. If you keep hearing the words “I’m sorry” without seeing real change, you may be experiencing manipulation.
Manipulative behavior can take many forms, and recognizing it is key to setting boundaries and prioritizing your mental health. If you’ve wondered whether an apology is real or just a tactic, you’re not alone.
This article will cover what manipulation is, the different types of manipulative apologies, and more information to help you understand manipulative behavior patterns.
Why an apology without change is manipulation
A 2015 study in The Counseling Psychologist found that apologies lacking behavior change can increase distress and confusion. Saying sorry, then continuing the same behavior, can become emotionally harmful to you. It creates a pattern where the cycle repeats, and your trust erodes.
When “sorry” becomes a routine, it no longer holds meaning, it becomes a strategy to continue the cycle of manipulation.
What is manipulation?
In the context of apologies, words like “I’m sorry” are meant to repair harm between people from some form of action. In the context of manipulation, an “I’m sorry” is used to influence your emotions, calm you down, or get something in return. It lacks accountability and avoids the commitment to change.
As described by psychologist Dr. George Simon, manipulation often involves covert aggression, where the behavior is hidden, subtle, and calculated to gain control. This can leave you confused, stuck, or questioning your memory.
True apologies, backed by psychological research, typically involve four essential parts:
- admitting harmful behavior
- expressing remorse
- making a genuine promise to change
- offering to repair the harm
When any of these parts are missing, the apology may not be sincere, even if it sounds convincing.
Types of manipulative apologies
Not all insincere apologies are calculated. Sometimes, they’re unconscious attempts to reduce discomfort. The impact on your emotional safety remains the same.
The following is a list of types of insincere apologies that will show you an example of the apology and help you understand the motive behind the kind of apology.
1. Guilty conscience
“I feel bad, so I need to say something, but this is really about me.”
The guilty conscious apology is used to relieve personal guilt rather than acknowledge your pain. You might be told “sorry” and left alone to cope with the emotional consequences. It feels like they’re checking a box, not opening a door for healing.
Even when well-meaning, this kind of apology prioritizes the other person’s emotions over yours. The result? You might feel obligated to comfort them instead.
In his 2006 article in the Journal of College and Character, Hershey H. Friedman wrote that apologies can create empathy for the offending party, sometimes more than they offer support for the one who was hurt.
2. Argument ender
“Let’s stop talking about this. I said ‘sorry,’ didn’t I?”
The argument ender apologies are given out of fatigue, not genuine understanding. The goal is to escape the discomfort of a conversation, not resolve it.
If the person walks away, changes the subject, or gets defensive when you continue talking, it’s a sign that the apology was meant to silence you, not support you.
This tactic shows up in all types of relationships and is especially common when tension builds. You might be left feeling like the challenge was never really acknowledged.
3. Leading the witness
“I said ‘sorry,’ now it’s your turn.”
Leading the witness apologies may sound generous, though it comes with strings attached. It implies that since they apologized, you’re now expected to do the same.
Instead of admitting full responsibility, this shifts the dynamic into a false sense of balance. If you’re told, “We both made mistakes,” even when you didn’t, it’s meant to soften their guilt and avoid the hard work of change.
You don’t owe a counter-apology just because one was given to you.
4. Testing boundaries
“If you forgive me again, I know I can get away with it.”
This apology serves as a test. If you accept it, the same hurtful behavior might repeat because the person sees your forgiveness as a green light.
Whether it’s forgetting an important commitment or crossing a clearly defined boundary, they watch to see your reaction. If the consequence is minimal, the behavior will likely happen again.
This often reflects a childlike understanding of consequences: “If I say ‘sorry,’ maybe I won’t get in trouble.” Remember that you’re not responsible for teaching someone to respect you.
5. Control and gaslighting
“I’m sorry, so you should stop being upset now.”
Control and gaslighting apologies can be dangerously confusing. It comes with just enough sincerity to seem real, yet is followed by behaviors designed to make you question your perception.
This kind of apology is where gaslighting often starts: “You’re too sensitive.” “It wasn’t that bad.” “You’re remembering it wrong.”
The apology is used as a shield. They may accuse you of holding a grudge or being dramatic when you continue expressing your feelings.
Manipulative apologies weaponize kindness to silence your valid feelings and distort your reality.
6. The last resort
“I don’t feel bad about what I did, I feel bad that you might leave.”
The last resort apology comes from fear of losing control. It might sound desperate or dramatic and is used to keep the connection from ending.
Sometimes, the person truly fears abandonment and will say anything to avoid it. Other times, this strategy is calculated, especially in emotionally abusive relationships. They apologize because they fear being cut off.
This creates confusion and guilt for you. You may feel you can’t walk away because they “seem sorry.” Deep down, nothing feels different.
7. The performative apology
“Saying ‘sorry’ makes me look good.”
The performative apology shows up in public or in front of others, especially when the person wants to appear generous or take the moral high ground. It may be polished, even emotional. Once the audience is gone, the same behavior returns.
It’s an image strategy instead of a repair strategy. You’re left alone with the disconnect between words and actions.
A sincere apology changes behavior in front of an audience as well as behind closed doors.
The difference between guilt and shame
Guilt: “I did something wrong.”
Shame: “I am wrong.”
Both emotions can be difficult to process. Guilt often leads to accountability, while shame may cause avoidance or projection. Chronic manipulators tend to resist both, using apologies to escape these uncomfortable feelings.
Recognize the patterns of manipulation
Recognizing patterns of manipulation is an act of self-protection. In understanding the warning signs of manipulative behavior, you can avoid these types of relationships or learn how to protect yourself when dealing with people you can’t always avoid.
Recognizing the patterns of manipulation often starts with noticing repeated behaviors that leave you feeling unsettled, confused, or emotionally drained. If you find yourself second-guessing your memory, feeling guilty after standing up for yourself or offering forgiveness without seeing any effort to change, you might be in a pattern of manipulation.
Look for key signs of manipulative behavior like:
- apologies that come too quickly or feel rehearsed
- frequent shifting of blame
- words that don’t line up with behavior
You may notice the same cycle: (1) conflict, (2) apology, (3) temporary peace, then (4) back to the same harm.
Manipulative patterns are often subtle and can feel like emotional whiplash. Taking care of your mental health when coping with a manipulative person is crucial to protecting yourself.
Here are ways to support your mental health as you recognize and respond to manipulative patterns:
- Hold space for your emotions: You deserve to feel what you feel. Confusion, sadness, and even anger are valid responses to repeated harm.
- Track repeated behavior: Use journaling or voice memos to track what’s said, how it made you feel, and whether the behavior changes over time.
- Talk it through with someone you trust: Whether it’s a friend or a professional, verbalizing what you’re experiencing can clarify what’s happening.
- Seek professional support: An online therapist can help you identify manipulation tactics, set boundaries, and support your healing journey.
Recognizing manipulation is the first step toward creating a space where your boundaries and emotions are respected.
Support for your healing journey
If you’ve been affected by insincere apologies or confusing behavior patterns, creating a support system to fall back on is critical for your mental health. Too often, you are left to face the emotional weight of trying to make sense of relationships where words don’t match actions.
At Makin Wellness, our specialized online therapists understand emotional manipulation and relationship challenges. We work with you to rebuild clarity, develop strong boundaries, and reconnect with your voice.
Ready to have the support you deserve? Call us at (833)-274-heal or schedule an online session to connect with your Makin Wellness online therapist.
Sources:
- Friedman, H. H. (2006). The Power of Remorse and Apology. Journal of College and Character, 7(1). https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.2202/1940-1639.1510/html
- Risen, J. L., & Gilovich, T. (2007). Target and Observer Differences in the Acceptance of Questionable Apologies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(3), 418–433. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6453732_Target_and_observer_differences_in_the_acceptance_of_questionable_apologies
- Wade, N. G., Worthington, E. L., & Meyer, J. E. (2005). But Do They Work? A Meta-Analysis of Group Interventions to Promote Forgiveness. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(1), 79–90. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236989400_But_Do_They_Work_A_Meta-Analysis_of_Group_Interventions_to_Promote_Forgiveness
- Fehr, R., Gelfand, M. J., & Nag, M. (2010). The Road to Forgiveness: A Meta-Analytic Synthesis of Its Situational and Dispositional Correlates. Psychological Bulletin, 136(5), 894–914. https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Fehr_et_al_2010_The_road_to_forgiveness-_A_meta-analytic_synthesis_of_its_situational_and_dispositional_correlates.pdf
- Simon, G. K. (1996). In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People. https://archive.org/details/insheepsclothing0000simo
- McCullough, M. E., & Witvliet, C. V. O. (2002). The Psychology of Forgiveness. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press. https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/28153/chapter/212955386
Baumeister, R. F., Stillwell, A. M., & Heatherton, T. F. (1994). Guilt: An Interpersonal Approach. Psychological Bulletin, 115(2), 243–267. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15034528_Guilt_An_Interpersonal_Approach
This Post Has 43 Comments
Thank you for this article.. I am currently stuck in this circle of empty apologizing.. He even says he knows what is needed but never acts … Then says sorry …
I’m stuck
Hi Shelley, Thank you for your comment. It sounds like the relationship could benefit from some new communication skills and techniques for change. It’s can be frustrating when change does not occur after the apology is given. Our office would be happy to help with that. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or 1-833-274-HEAL.
What about someone demanding you to accept their apology and if you don’t they punish you.
Thank you for your reaching out, April. This sounds like a rather serious form of control. It can be hard to gain back a healthy level on your own. We have experienced professionals who work with individuals just like you. You are not alone. Give us a call at 833-274-4325 and we can help.
How do I explain to my husband why saying “I’m sorry I don’t live up to your expectations” or “I’m sorry I’m such an @hole” isn’t an actual apology? Because he seems to think it is and he gets upset when I basically ignore the so called apology or suggestion that, that’s not really an apology or if things have already tested my patience, I tell him to grow up. (I know that one doesn’t help)
This tends to happen when I ask him to do something differently like throw the empty poptart box in the trash, not on the kitchen table (pick up after himself) or not to take his frustration out on me when he has a bad day. Something dumb like that. I know… I have really high expectations (eyeroll)
Or telling me he’s not yelling when I tell him not yell at me, especially when he’s upset about something that has nothing to do with me.
Hi, thank you for your response. Sometimes significant others create an apology that contains things that they think the other person wants to hear. While this may seem condescending to you, he may feel it is appropriate. While these responses can trigger anger, it is helpful to try to breathe and respond to their apology with questions about why they feel that way. We can help you come up with better forms of communication and find the answers you are looking for. Give us a call at 833-274-HEAL or join us at our next Facebook Live Q&A. We hope to hear from you and wish you the best.
What if youre truly apologetic
but you say somethings which give off a bad aura? but you dont mean it, at all
i fear thats the reason my life is like this
Hi, Shelley.
I have been going through the same thing….for 12 years. It began over different things. But over the past two years, it has been over the same thing…and has gone from once every 6 months to every 2-3 days. It has destroyed me. I’m pretty sure he’s a narcissist…and I KNOW he gaslights me. I went from a confident, joyful, outgoing person who loved life and had lots of friends….to a recluse who has no self esteem, and who is being hurt by someone who never deserved me to start with….and by that, I mean….he has NEVER contributed a dime to the relationship despite promises to pitch in;hasbinvaded my privacy, been violent, horri ly verbally abusive, and does unspeakably cruel things….then disappears, and resurfaces with apologies….and usually a request for money and then repeats the behavior. He has cost me jobs, family….my joy. These days, I literally have pain in my chest daily from the hurt. It’s been like that for the past 5 years now….and each time he goes silent, I decide I must not let him back to hurt me more. But I’m so devastated and isolated now that when he does appear with a vague, insincere apology that I KNOW isn’t real, I’m so desperste to not feel the heartache, that I end up choosing to ‘pretend’ it’s sincere….just for those few moments of relief. It reminds me of my childhood: choosing to believe my alcoholic dad daily, when he’d promise each morning for years on end, that he wouldn’t come home drunk and violent again….knowing deep inside he would. Believing let me get through the day. He was drunk every single night.
Anyway….point being, I’m in another “silent treatment”….what he did this time is the worst yet (in terms of blatant cruelty-)….and despite feeling gutted, I REALLY want to keep him out when he inevitably shows up again. I just hope the lure of the momentary relief from the sadness doesn’t win this time. Logically, I’m aware of exactly what’s up. I’m no fool. But I recognize I’m stuck, totally stripped of everything by this man, and am running on fumes for self motivation and perseverance.
Worst of all, when I met him 12 yrs ago, his stepmom was just like me now: housebound, empty, depressed….his dad was a total monster to both of them (but of course, my partner seemed different-)…she warned me to get out….that the men in this family were all monsters, and Ibwould end up like her – basically waiting to die in order to be rid of the pain. I felt sorry for her, but thought it would never happen to me. The son (my partner) was so charming! 12 yrs later, I’m a shell of my former self. Unrecognizable to myself. Alone. Hurting. Desperately sad and alone, and feeling worthless. (And clearly, sleepless, as I’m writing this at 3AM!)
I hope you managed to stay strong. Praying for you.
I have totally been there, since my first boyfriend at 15 and the 4 or 5 or maybe it’s 6 or 7 now relatiomships I’ve had during the following 20 years. I know exactly how you feel… Like you gotta quit fooling yourself, cuz you Know the likelihood that you’ll fall for it next time, and you’re embarrassed to keep lying to yourself or anyone else when you say you’re done.
What I finally did w most of these relationships to get really done w them was getting with someone else when they were away doing their silent treatment bullshit. You know the saying to get over somebody got to get under someone else…. However usually the people that would be the kinds that I would be attracted to are going to be the same ones I was trying to get away from So usually I just started a whole new relationship with another narcissist by doing this. I’m at the point right now though where I know that I can do that and it’s easier to not be so attached for so long where I don’t get so worn out and worn down by them anymore. Actually what makes this possible is by dating people who are totally emotionally unavailable, The guys who are obvious cheaters or multiple women kind of guys, or already in relation ships (that “are ending”) or ones at their midlife crisis who know how to be mature and over their horny younger days but are actually just reverting to the same behaviors, just w less attwntion (and therefore less competition) from other women
It isn’t what I want, of course. I need to break away and not keep myself distracted all the time w always having some shitty relationship that I need to get over but I just fall for the good everytime.
I think I might have borderline personality disorder. I did some pretty terrible things to my 76 year old Aunt in the hopes she wouldn’t leave me. She did- she blocked my email and phone. I apologized as sincerely as I could many times. I really feel awful about lying to her and manipulating her emotions. I love her and fear she might be go e from my life forever. I keep reaching out to her by opening new email accounts but she doesn’t respond to my messages. Is there anything else I can do? I am having a hard time trying to respect her wishes not to talk to me. I really wish I could turn back time. It is awful to lose someone you truly care about and to have to admit my behaviors are what caused her to permanently cut me off. Should I keep apologizing? What if she never talks to me again? I’m heartbroken.
Hi Jennifer. Processing the past and dealing with our life choices can be a difficult thing to deal with. We would love to talk to you more about what you’re walking through, you’re always welcome to schedule an introductory call with one of our team members. We’re here to help.
I feel stuck in this relationship staying with someone who doesn’t change at all or make anything better just talks about it. I am 5 weeks pregnant and i have a 1 yr old daughter . I’ve been trying hard to stay and make this work but i am tired of the constant hurt. I never get dealt the same hand i give him. I want to leave in fact i’m always letting him know i want to leave to see if he will change but see i’m here writing this so no no changes at all just empty statements and promises.
Hi Simone. We are sorry that you are struggling with these things in your relationship. Feel free to schedule an appointment with one our team members if you feel like you need help.
I had to cut this toxic manipulative person out of my life. Around 35 years and misconduct repeated and evaded consequences this way, never learning to change. She blameshifts, will not see herself as the creator of conflicts.
So my wife was in an abusive relationship. I understand that. No matter how many things I try to change it seems never good enough. She points out things to me that don’t make sense but I’ll just do it. Example being all your shoes are down here in a complaint format. I take then to our room on my side of the closet. I’m an alcoholic since I was 15 or so. I’m 37 now but quit drinking for 3 or 4 years now. We moved fast and I have one child who mom abused heroin while pregnant with another guys baby and gained full custody for two years now. We always co parented great. So my one and her two. She always shows favoritism towards the boy. When I ask for something only common sense shows I shouldn’t need to ask, she creates this drama and starts saying I said it this or that way. She tells me what I felt and what I meant by it. No matter how I change the way I approach the situation its always the same. I get to a point where I don’t talk to her for days. She then apologizes and says we need to learn how to communicate. Everytime and everything I ask about always comes with a bout and she turns it into right or wrong. Then insults me as in my person but says I said something mean when it was changed to what I meant when I said it. I explain even for the future that if I’m asking about something then that’s all I’m asking. Every time she gets defensive, plays victim or has excuses and starts telling me what I said. I explained to her that I’m trying to talk with her using us, we, our, and she finds a way to flip it and then I told her that when we talk she doesn’t talk to me she talks at me. Instead of I feel like when you said this it was that. It goes more like I got defensive because you said this like that and it hurt me. Like how are you going to say what I meant and said for me as to why you felt something or she will say when you said this it made me feel like you are doing this. Like so I made you feel a way. Nothing about herself. She scoffs all the time which we talked about and she says sorry but it never ends. She scoffs and says your mad. I’m always saying why am I always mad when I’m just talking. She left me barely any food and asked if I needed more. I explained she cooked and doesn’t eat as much as us 4 do please do. She rudely says I was gonna have it anyway. Seemed like a joke but usually you say just kidding. Whatever though I don’t care. She apologized like 5 times saying are you sure your ok? So I say if it isn’t I can just go get myself something to eat. She scoffs and another we agreed not to do. She scoffs at me in front of the kids. I say what was that? What are you scoffing at me. She goes cuz your all mad about it. So I say why are you just saying. Shhhhh not in front of the kids. Like I’m a b word.like she is better than me when it’s always this start to a fight I never started and then act like she is the bigger person and I just need to quiet. She has not been supportive of anything at all and seems more like she really just pretends to be so ill shut up. She once said to my face she wishes I had friends to talk to so I didn’t talk to her about stuff. Then tries to discuss makeup. Now I’m really standing up for myself and it’s always the same with she is sorry and then says this we stuff and it’s like and I accepted this when I was drinking. I said for the first 2 years I accept that I caused a lot of issues but I’ve changed and proved it. I said and then we had issues with parenting for about a year and I’ve worked so hard not to worry about all the little things. Now it’s just been then victim excuses always siding with her son. My girl and hers are fed up with him and she blames them and babies him. He randomly goes in there room and trash talks and she yells at them and blames them. Her son used to do dishes and has a bad arm but did them just fine and excuses him from doing hand washed dishes. She blames the arm. Yet he plays basketball just fine and emptied the dishwasher just fine. Now he does trash and she tells him to leave it in the garage and just expects me to take it. She does all these things in the house and sometimes when stuff isn’t done I’ll do it but I said hey you do too much and that I’m more than willing to help but my whole day is work so I need you to say or ask so I know and you can relax. She complains whenever there is a chance in anything where she did wrong and says she does everything. She uses Word all the time, you never, I always have to and you do nothing. Everytime I’m telling her how that hurts my feeling because I do help especially when I’m off and the kids are home off school and it’s so she can be alone and relax. Then she says sorry and how she needs me and blah blah just to do it again later. If I say you shouldn’t leave cans here and the trash is closer it’s just all this crap I didn’t say or mean she made up I did and it’s like a huge deal. She says she wants to talk and I’m at this point I just walk aways and now I say to her she doesn’t want to talk because I was trying to and you(she) just gets mad and insults me and says what I said and meant. The girls have been telling me they are sick of her antics. Anyway the one time I say maybe I should get paperwork because she won’t accept anything and keeps saying me. I’m like I’m sick of being told I need to change when I see nothing from Her. She still acts the same. Scoffs at me. Insults me and makes up what I meant and said that insulted her I never meant or said . One time I say it she sends me a pdf of paperwork and says she wants me still but respects my choice. Then says we should do counseling. She will give excuses for her son and reacts like a b word to my daughter and her mom just stopped seeing or hanging out with her after 13 years of being the primary care provider. Her ex has been back and fourth with multiple kids from multiple mothers and acts like my daughter doesn’t know the struggle let alone her own daughter. I just want to explain and let you hear what I’m dealing with because I want somone to see what I’m dealing with. She won’t even call her family for advice because one time while at her fams I explained something and they all explained how she can be. She acts like being a single mom was executed without help but all her family helps all the time. I come from a loving family but with a lot of background problems we all dealt with and grew from but I don’t have any family or help. Mom and dad just we never talk and they don’t do that kinda stiff and I have a brother in another state with his own kids and marriage. I’m just me. My daughter and I are just us. We have nothing to turn to and I love her but I feel like I allowed too much power and now am the punching bag for all her exes abuse and she learned some manipulation tactics along the way to enable a way to show no remorse or emotion until it’s a victim card I’m supposed to feel bad about and I’ve had a rough life some I chose and some not but it’s like the small years of that can never amount to it or the mother card which I can’t have because I’m a male. I don’t mention anything like that anyway because it’s my own dealings and you either suffer with a crutch or work it into calcium around the break and become better. I don’t need to talk about it because it helped me grow and that’s it. She seems to always wanna say that like I’m supposed to pity it but you use the same excuse for anything it begins to lose its meaning. Please help!
Thank you for sharing valuable insights on this sensitive topic. I am coping with a family member who is repeatedly doing bad things to me and others, apologizing, but then making zero effort to demonstrate change. Total insincerity. You called it for what it is. I needed this. It validates my own emotions and helps me frame up my own thoughts on the topic. I finally told her I was done listening to the “I’m sorries. I am paying attention to the actions … not the words anymore.” She was pissed, but I’m not here to be popular. I think back to what Maya Angelou said about when people show you who they really are, believe them the first time.”
Hi Dana. Thanks for sharing your story. We understand how you feel. These situations with family members are really hard to deal with.
Great article, though strongly disagree with the part about “testing” their willingness to keep talking. Conversations should be consensual–if a person is burnt out and doesn’t feel like talking anymore, (they should say so, and not lie with a fake apology, but) you’re not entitled to keep talking at them (which will only push them to lash out or further shut down.) Nagging is a form of abuse, too. I highly advise against it, and even traditionally “feminine” argumentative tactics can be just as toxic.
Married for 34 years, to a man who has used all the apology angles in this article. For years I didn’t recognize it. My mother actually years ago said she appreciated that he apologized frequently even when he didn’t feel he was wrong. I thought it odd then and even more so now.
What I would love is for someone – any therapist (we have been to 4) to give me the tools to respond to his lack of change and empty apology’s. I don’t know what to say and all I know is to be silent.
At this point walking away seems my only avenue and I don’t relish the thought of Divorce.
Honestly not sure which is worse – continue to hear the empty apologies or the legal battle.
Hi Renee. We are sorry that you are struggling with these things in your marriage. We understand finding a therapist you can connect with matters. Feel free to schedule an appointment with one our team members we’d love to match you with someone that can help you move toward healing in your relationship.
I never thought I could make a sentence or even put them feelings into words until I saw this article. Thank you
We are so glad you felt a connection to our post, Jess. Hopefully, this is the starting point for expressing your experiences, needs and boundaries with more ease when you feel comfortable to do so.
I am struggling as a parent and a behavior analyst to demonstrate to the school counselor that having kids apologize forcibly does not lead to any behavior change or learned skills. Is there specific research that demonstrates this?
I have a close friend who I met in High School when I was 14 years old. She is married and in an abusive relationship and in the process of getting a divorce.
At my 60th birthday party, which my daughter beautifully planned for me, this friend of mine got intoxicated
And ruined the party. She became very verbally and physically abusive.
The scene that she caused was horrible.
When we spoke the following day, she was crying and apologized and when I tried to tell her how horrible she made me feel and that she had embarrassed me in front of my family and had ruined a milestone event that had taken my daughter months to plan and prepare for.
She then cursed at me and said “ Do you even know what I went through that day?” She had to go to court and testify regarding her husband and the divorce
And the abuse.
My question is Should that excuse her actions?
And how can I move forward with her if she refuses to take responsibility for what she did?
But keeps repeating that she is going through a rough time?
Thank you
Hi Suzanne. Thanks for sharing your story. We understand how hard this situation with your friend must feel. If you want to talk more about this feel free to contact our Makin Wellness team today.
Thank you for this article. How do you deal with someone that is NEVER willing to offer an apology. I have been with my husband for 17 years and he refuses to ever apologize for hurting me or take responsibility for his actions. He once said by apologizing to me, it makes him inferior to me. When I communicate to him that he has caused me great emotional distress, he becomes annoyed and then follows it with the silent treatment until I eventually just get tired and in the end I apologize to him for expressing my feelings. I recently learned the term gaslighting and I feel he does that to me. A lot of times he denies saying things to hurt me or telling me that I make up hurtful events in my head. He often tells me that I just need to stop reading into things and stop overreacting. The problem isn’t him, it’s me and my own insecurities for always feeling hurt.
I know it’s me. I just don’t know how to change his way of thinking. The will to stay in this marriage is coming to an end. Living a life of heartache is not a way of life. But I can honestly say my husband is such a good person to everyone else. He cares so deeply for the relationship he has with his mom and siblings. This is how I know he actually has it in him. However, that deep love has never been given to me.
Hi Marisela. Thanks for sharing your story. We understand how hard it must feel. We’ve found that therapy goes a long way in moving toward healing and gaining health coping skills. Contact our Makin Wellness team today as we’d love to help you develop a plan to find joy in life again.
Hi,
This is a very helpful article. Well written by making clear the types of apologies, their meanings and the applications in situations.
Hello, thank you for your feedback!
I have a very dear friend who I met in high school. We have been friends for over 40 years
She has a drinking problem, and has gotten
Violent and verbally abuse at social events.through the years. My friends and I have tried an intervention in the past but it did not work. At my 60th Birthday, she got drunk , violent, verbally abusive to me and ruined the party. She sort of apologized in a text , but said she was having a rough day because she is going through a divorce and had to appear
I’m court that day. She did not really take responsibility for her actions and has refused to meet with me in person. I have decided
To tell her that unless she gets help I cannot be a part of her life. I am not sure if I am doing the right thing. She has gotten angry and said I am a horrible friend.
I am so sorry you’re experiencing this! That sounds frustrating and hurtful. Expressing boundaries is a form of self-care and self-respect, so kudos for expressing your boundary clearly. Addiction is incredibly tough for those who suffer from it and those who feel the effects of the addiction from their loved one. If what you’ve been experiencing with your friend is causing you ongoing pain, remember to reach out to talk to someone. You don’t have to deal with this alone!
Hello… I’m so tired of women throwing around the word narcissist because it has no meaning anymore. Someone disagrees and argues with her a couple of times… he’s a narcissist, even though she started the argument. Anyway, on one of your first points, apology without change is manipulation, while I agree in part, I believe it’s human nature on both sexes. I have a brain injury and tend to forget things so I go back to things often. According to you, that’s manipulation yet it’s being in a habit. I can’t count the times some of the same women have hurt me and I can guarantee you “relationship experts” would just tell me to just be a man and suck it up and move on according to this article alone. People aren’t cookie cutouts.
I just want to say thanks for the great informations you brought to us. Very enlightening!!!
Thanks, Juliana. We are so glad you found our content helpful.
Can an apology still be seen as sincere without action steps #3 and 4? I’m wanting to send an apology letter to an ex partner for the hurt that I caused in the relationship. I’m only wanting to offer accountability and an apology, and do not expect there to be a relationship of any type between us in the future. So the realized promised and making amends portion of it seem to not apply. Would that be considered sincere still? And side question, how can you properly distinguish between an apology written to soothe guilt versus one that will help the other person? I’m having a hard time justifying if what I want to communicate is self serving.
Great questions, Oscar.
You can make a sincere apology without steps #3 and #4 if there is no relationship currently and no relationship will be made from this. The article mostly states these from the perspective of someone who is still involved in a relationship, who apologizes but never changes their behavior. For your situation, you want to apologize for past behavior and recognize that there isn’t currently any plans to reignite continual contact or a relationship.
In order to know if you are attempting to apologize to soothe your guilt or to help the other person is based on your motive as the apologizer. What is the motivating drive to write the letter and apologize. Would sending them a letter and bringing to surface memories of their experience with you be harmful to them? Or do you think that hearing an apology would be healing for their heart?
It is ok to apologize when you feel bad about something you’ve done. Make sure the act of apologizing isn’t all about you and how you feel. Your motive will guide you to know if you are being genuine or self-serving.
I’m really bad at staying in touch. Sometimes I go days without talking to people. I have the ability to reach out to them, but for whatever reason, I don’t. This is especially hard for my boyfriend, as he grew up in an abusive household and has had manipulative partners in the past. He has told me many times that my behavior makes him feel neglected and unwanted. I feel so so bad for making him feel this way. I apologize, and then try to cheer him up with compliments and jokes in an effort to make up for hurting him. I keep trying to put more effort into staying in contact with him, but I still have a lot of room for improvement. Other than this, me and my partner are very happy together. However, I feel like he deserves someone better than me, someone who won’t hurt him. Maybe that’s just my lack of self-esteem talking. I don’t know. I care about him so much and I really want him to be happy. I feel like I’m not doing enough to improve myself. Sometimes I feel that it would be best for me to cut myself off from him completely so I don’t hurt him anymore, even though that’s the kind of thing that would hurt him most. He has expressed how much he cares for me and how he hopes that we can both work towards maintaining a healthy relationship. Both of us struggle with communication due to past traumas, and neither of us have a fully developed prefrontal cortex. Are we not emotionally ready for a relationship? I just want him to be happy.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Iggy. From what you wrote, it sounds like you and your partner care a lot about each other, but do not know how to navigate your personal trauma within the context of your relationship. I recommend that you both see a counselor if you aren’t already to work on your past traumatic experiences and learn how to navigate unintentional hurt caused from each other due to your traumas. It is ok that you make mistakes, so try not to be too hard on yourself. Everyone is a work in progress.
What if you realize you are a person engaging in this kind of behavior out of long shame and self protection AND YOU WANT TO STOP? The Internet is full of advice for the recipients of this, but I find very little to help someone who has realized that a lifetime of self-protection is a lifetime of hurting others and of self-defeating behaviors. But when I find myself faced by difficult emotions an ill-defined “different way” doesn’t come to mind. Crickets. And the old stonewalling and defensiveness come pouring out. How does the “bad guy” learn “good guy”:behavior? The only thing that comes to me is “silence” (avoidance). Help!
Thank you, Mike, for sharing the other side of this type of behavior and how there are people who don’t want it to be that way. Self-awareness is the first step, and you are there! Manipulation is a type of behavior that can be caused by several different experiences and root causes. I recommend speaking to one of our counselors to understand your past experiences and current ways of processing your emotions. Silence isn’t a long-term answer. You need to be able to express yourself and have your needs met in healthy ways. The only way to get there is to talk to a trusted counselor to teach you how to cope with and manage your emotions. The internet is full of information, helpful and not. That’s why it’s important to talk to professionals with the latest tools and understanding of psychology so they have the best information to help you.
This article is the closest explanation I have found for my husband’s behavior. We are getting divorced after 15 years but I feel like I can’t heal until I can somehow identify his problem or behavior from a psychological perspective.
I’ve never thought of him as having a self confidence issue, actually it’s quite the opposite. He is very self centered and feels better than others. While he does many ‘selfless” things like involvement in the community, I always felt like it was ego building and a sense of power.
The difference is I think he truly does feel sorry for actions and has remorse. The problem is that the guilt is fleeting and before long he will do the same bad behavior. His apologies were never satisfying. He was too quick to apologize after he realized he was wrong. When someone says sincerely ” I am so sorry. I was wrong. I should have ____ .” Then what is left to say? And usually it was followed by ,” I am such a loser. Why do you stay with me? I don’t deserve you. “. He quickly became a victim and wanted reassurance which I couldn’t stomach giving because I was so mad!
I guess it shouldn’t matter since I’ve left but I am kept up at night wondering exactly what his problem is. I feel like a scientist looking at a mysterious specimen and I can’t move on.
Michelle, thank you for your comment and sharing your experiences. Understanding what has happened can feel incredibly important during any healing process, so it makes sense that you are searching for the root of your husband’s actions. I’m glad you found the article helpful. If you need someone to help you work through what you’ve been through and process your husband’s actions during your marriage, one of our online counselors could help shed more light into your situation and help you through the next steps of your healing process. Sometimes having someone discover with you can be the support you need to find the conclusion you’re looking for. I wish you all the best in your healing journey and on your new chapter of life.