ABSTRACT
Reconciliation seems simple enough at first glance. One or both relationship partners violate a relationship expectation, norm, rule, or moral ethic. The violation hurts at least one relational partner and damages the relationship. The partners find a way to repair the relationship. Words and phrases commonly associated with reconciliation, such as repair , return to normal , and restore , contribute to the confusion. Social scientists have narrowed the constituent elements of reconciliation to a few central components. At the heart of reconciliation are communicative processes that cultivate adaptive emotional expressions and cognitive and behavioral restructuring of the relationship. Clearly, dehumanizing works against our ability to engage in productive rehabilitation of damaged relationships as it creates emotional damage and hope lessness. The empathy process is facilitated through genuine dialogue by creating a “living mutual relation” between partners.
