Retributive justice beliefs in Cyprus: The role of apology effectiveness and honor value endorsement

• Honor values influence preferences for retributive justice in post-conflict settings like Cyprus. • Apologies may increase retributive justice beliefs when seen as ineffective at restoring social standing. • Turkish Cypriots view apologies as ineffective, leading to stronger retributive preferences. • Intergroup trust plays opposing roles in retributive justice preferences for Greek and Turkish Cypriots. • Cultural values and effective apologies must guide transitional justice measures to ensure reconciliation success. Core social psychological processes including morality, punishment, and reciprocity can be significantly shaped by differences in cultural logics. Although the literature on the function of honor (as a cultural logic) in interpersonal relationships is expanding, little is known about how it may play a role in intergroup processes other than negative consequences, such as intergroup hostility. Examining the function of honor value endorsement in transitional justice is a promising direction. The current study investigates these dynamics while considering the role of apology effectiveness in Cyprus, a post-conflict society where honor beliefs are expected to shape interpersonal and intergroup processes. Apologies, while often considered an important prerequisite for forgiveness and reconciliation may also evoke complex reactions tied to revenge-seeking, or honor restoration. These factors complicate their effectiveness in transitional justice settings. This study aims to clarify how honor value endorsement shapes justice preferences and apology perceptions. We found evidence that the relationship between honor value endorsement and retributive justice beliefs was mediated by beliefs in the effectiveness of apologies (while controlling for trust and amount of positive contact), specifically in the Turkish Cypriot community. Results are discussed in light of the unique dynamics within the Cypriot context and underscore the importance of addressing cultural variations to achieve reconciliation and sustainable peace.