a warning: We do not like this behaviour, and want your assurance that it will not happen in the future. Do you understand this, and promise not to do it again?
The apology takes the place of "yes, I do". From my 'youth' (i.e. when I was 6 instead of 18) I remember that an apology should usually be a bit more than the three words "I'm sorry":
"I'm sorry what?"
"I'm sorry that I did X, and won't do it again."
It's often quite painful to say/admit that you actually did X, and shouldn't have, so the apology does have value. |
