An apology is an expression of regret or remorse for actions, while apologizing is the act of expressing regret or remorse. In informal situations, it may be called saying sorry. The goal of apologizing is generally forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration of the relationship between the people involved in a dispute. The nature of apologizing involves at least two people where one has offended the other. According to the attribution theory, giving an apology as early as possible leads to less conflict during the discussion and increases communication satisfaction. The way the apology is given affects the outcome and the process of forgiveness. For example, putting genuine emotion into an apology generally helps resolve disputes more quickly and helps rid negative emotions faster. When responding to a crisis, there are multiple implications and ethical standards organizations and groups might follow. Elements The basic elements of an apology communicate: That the person apologizing was, in some way, responsible for the unjust actions taken; That the person apologizing is aware of the injustices that resulted from those actions; and That the person apologizing intends to behave differently in the future. Most philosophers believe that apologies require the person apologizing to hold certain emotions, especially regret or remorse. (The relevant difference between regret and remorse is that people who feel remorse believe that the situation was caused by their actions or inactions, whereas people can feel regret for situations beyond their control or outside of their involvement.) However, others, at least in some situations, believe that this is not strictly necessary. Efficacy The way an apology is communicated and its timing affect the likelihood of success. The timing of the apology, the importance of the relationship, and the characteristics of the precipitating event are all factors that affect whether an apology will be acknowledged or gain forgiveness. When an apology is given in an effective style, the offender has a greater chance of being forgiven. Apologizing shortly after the incident, or after the resulting problems were brought to the attention of the offender, can increase the apology's effectiveness. Ineffective apology statements focus on the harm done to victims while minimizing descriptions of the offender's context, motivation, or justification. An effective statement apologizes for the offender's own actions, such as "I'm sorry I said that", and not for other people's reactions to those actions ("I'm sorry people were offended"). Sincerity matters, and the measure of