The Double–Edged Sword of Excuses: When do they Help, When do they Hurt

Although it is relatively well–accepted that excuses provide benefits, less is known in regard to their negative consequences. The current studies illustrate conditions under which an excuse produces positive or negative effects. Results indicate that the strength among responsibility linkages afford judgment–makers a basis to attribute responsibility, form evaluations, and deliver negative repercussions to excuse–makers. Excuses disengaged people from problematic events by weakening the strength of these linkages. However, whether an excuse while weakening these links produced positive or negative outcomes depended on the validity of the conditions under which the excuse was given. Specifically, when excuses weakened responsibility linkages but the conditions lacked believability, future correction, and respect for others, excuses resulted in detrimental consequences, whereas if the excuse maintained these conditions it produced positive outcomes. In short, excuses weakened responsibility links and minimized negative repercussions, but only when conditions preserved an excuses' validity.