Building empathy by watching apologies: perceptions of facilitators regarding bystanders and perpetrators

A group of Cape Town Holocaust Centre volunteer educators were shown a video of an apology from a representative of bystanders who had lived in Germany in World War II apologising for not stopping a specific act of violence. The research aimed to investigate how individuals (educators or facilitators in this case) may be likely to be more available for increased reflection and understanding. These are conversations that are overdue in South Africa. We caution against apologies being taught as alternatives to reparations and bringing perpetrators to justice or this being taught as if apologies that are perceived as papering over cracks are what is required. Researchers recommend that these kinds of material be used in academic curricula across a range of subjects in the Humanities