A University of Virginia psychology study says apologies are important to everyone, even young children. The study, published this week in Social Development, finds that while apologizing may not heal the hurt caused, it does mend relations between people. "What was surprising was that children who experienced a minor transgression and heard an apology felt just as bad as those who did not hear an apology," said Marissa Drell, a PH.D. candidate in psychology at UVa and the lead author of the study.