Interpersonal betrayal : self-serving biases, cynicism, and the mediating effects of apology

A questionnaire was constructed to explore interpersonal betrayal in an account-making format. The questionnaire, including biographic questions, questions regarding important incidents of betrayal, and the Interpersonal Betrayal Scale was administered to five-hundred and fifteen college students. Responses were markedly self-serving in nature, and somewhat more so, for women in the sample. It is suggested that the biases apparent in negative attributions grow out of a larger context of cynicism, and that this context may be more important to women. The aftermath of betrayals was also examined in detail. Findings indicated that most betrayals resulted in relatively negative consequences, but that apology may mediate some outcomes.