The problem is, of course, the possibility that he'll make gesture only until she softens toward him, at which point he'll resume his hurtful and uncooperative behavior. After a while, you just have to acknowledge that the evidence suggests that someone simply isn't interested in working harmoniously with you, but only in keeping you around to serve him and take his frustrations out on.
On the other hand, he could be trying to defend himself from the same thing he is for some reason expecting her to do. A lot of guys have reached the conclusion that any sort of apology is counterproductive, "giving in" to a woman only makes her your enemy, and small gestures are the only way to make up for any missteps on our part that a woman will accept and (eventually) respond to.
a fine and enviable madness, this delusion that all questions have answers, and nothing is beyond the reach of a strong left arm.
