Sorry. Not Sorry
Mea Culpa seems to be the thing on the news right now. Everywhere. What if all of these people who are in the media just said: "I am so sorry. What I did was wrong. I am and will continue to work on myself so I better understand my past behavior to never do this again." Done. No excuses that there was no memory of it or it was a boozy evening etc., etc.
According to psychologist Karina Schumann who wrote a study in 2014 that was published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, "Many apology elements require transgressors to admit fault, express shameful emotions and promise change. Transgressors often avoid these threatening elements and instead choose to use more perfunctory apologies or even defensive strategies."
I have found, through my personal experience, that apologies open up lines for much-needed communication with another person.
Communication is key, right? You finally get the moment to explain how you felt, how it affected you and so on. I like to allow other people to tell their side of the story; it should be therapeutic for both parties.
There is also freeing feeling that comes with the apology because you finally get to say the things you have repeatedly rehearsed in your mind. The anger, disappointment, hurt and frustration start to slip away.
You see, it works out for everyone. Problem solved! (well, sorta).