However, the mere act of asking the harmed what he or she needs can go a long way toward rebuilding trust. In an empirical investigation of breaches of trust, harmdoers who asked “What can I do?” were more successful in rebuilding cooperation than those who did not ask or asked “What will it take?” Penance is critical to trust in mixed-motive relationships. Aggravating a counterparty after a breach by making offers of penance that do not seem sincere may further antagonize. In contrast, volunteering to do penance, even in small amounts, is particularly effective.