214. What Does It Take to Survive a Scandal?

How do you come back from being “canceled”? Are we more likely to forgive someone if they cry? And what makes a successful public apology?

SOURCES:Karen Cerulo • , professor emeritus of sociology at Rutgers University. Bill Clinton • , former president of the United States. David Gergen • , professor emeritus of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School; former White House adviser to four U.S. presidents. Benjamin Ho • , professor and chair of economics at Vassar College. Monica Lewinsky • , activist. John List • , professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Brandon Rottinghaus • , professor of political science at the University of Houston.

RESOURCES: • " Slut-Shamed at 22, an Icon at 50 — How Monica Lewinsky Got Her Life Back • ," by Helen Rumbelow ( The Times, • 2024). • " Do Scandals Matter? • " by Brandon Rottinghaus ( Political Research Quarterly, • 2023). • " Toward An Understanding of the Economics of Apologies: Evidence from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment • ," by Basil Halperin, Benjamin Ho, John List, and Ian Muir ( The Economic Journal, • 2022). • " Embodied Remorse: Physical Displays of Remorse Increase Positive Responses to Public Apologies, but Have Negligible Effects on Forgiveness • ," by Matthew J. Hornsey, Michael J. A. Wohl, Emily A. Harris, Tyler G. Okimoto, Michael Thai, and Michael Wenzel ( Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, • 2020). • " Commentary: Time for Bill Clinton to Go Away • ," by Will Rahn ( CBS News, • 2018). • " The Price of Shame • ," by Monica Lewinsky ( TED Talk, • 2015). • " Apologies Demanded Yet Devalued: Normative Dilution in the Age of Apology • ," by Tyler G. Okimoto, Michael Wenzel, and Matthew J. Hornsey ( Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, • 2015). • " Apologies of the Rich and Famous: Cultural, Cognitive, and Social Explanations of Why We Care and Why We Forgive • ," by Janet M. Ruane and Karen Cerulo ( Social Psychology Quarterly, • 2014).

EXTRAS: • " How to Optimize Your Apology • ," by Freakonomics Radio • (2018). • " Coal Digger • ," S1.E5 of Modern Family • (2009).

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