Don’t try and justify your actions. Say, “I know what I did was wrong, and I’m sorry. " Saying as few words as possible in a serious tone is usually the right tactic. The sooner the interaction is over, the sooner you can put it behind you.
You may want to solemnly nod your head as the person who caught you tells you what they think. This will make you seem more contrite. It’s good to act sorry, but don’t go overboard. Crying or yelling dramatically probably won’t seem genuine under these circumstances.
In some cases, explaining your side of the situation could backfire. For example, if your teacher caught you cheating on a test, telling him that you forgot to study probably won’t help your case. Under these circumstances, it’s best to stay quiet. Try to reflect on what you did as well. Were you angry and trying to get revenge? What did that accomplish?[2] X Expert Source Nicole Barile, PhD, NTPLicensed Clinical Psychologist & Nutritional Therapist Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
In some cases you may not accept the punishment; you may feel it is unfair. Weigh the pros and cons of resisting. If you refuse the punishment, will it make things worse for you? Will it be worth it to take a principled stand? Only you can decide. You can either swallow the punishment and move on, or stand up for yourself and possibly face more extreme consequences. Think about what you should do in similar situations in the future. If possible, try to develop and engage with coping strategies that will help you avoid repeating the same mistakes. [3] X Expert Source Nicole Barile, PhD, NTPLicensed Clinical Psychologist & Nutritional Therapist Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
If you were caught by a police officer or another authority, call your parents right away. If you were caught at school, it’s also important to involve your parents immediately.
If you don’t feel sorry, that’s a different matter. Don’t apologize unless you genuinely feel you owe the person an apology. You may need a few days to process what happened before you’re able to form a sincere apology.
While it is important that the other person feel like they have their say, don’t let your mistake become an occasion for dredging up past wrongs or dwelling on the injury. On the other hand, it is important that we do not impose our standards on someone else. Do not say, “you should be over this by now. " Be sensitive to the other person’s needs while keeping in mind the need to move on.
This could be a mutual friend or family member who’s equally close to both people. You could also go to a counselor to help you solve the issue.
Even if you know what you did was wrong, don’t reveal it by showing strong emotion. Try taking a few deep breaths before you say anything.
For example, if your parents accuse you of staying out past curfew, act like you didn’t realize it had gotten so late. Keep a straight face, and act slightly surprised if they push the issue.
Keep it simple. Don’t make up something that sounds extraordinary. For example, if you were out past curfew, you could say you kept hitting red lights. [5] X Research source Make sure it is a story you can stick to. Changing your story is one of the biggest signs that you were lying.
