Is Exposure to Conflict‐Related Violence Associated With Less Intergroup Empathy? The Moderating Role of Ideology

ABSTRACT Exposure to conflict‐related violence is one of the most harmful consequences of living amidst a violent intergroup conflict. While its potential significance is profound, the impact of exposure to conflict‐related violence on intergroup empathy remains largely unexplored. The current paper aims to address this gap by proposing political ideology as a potential moderator of the exposure‐empathy link. Three studies conducted among Jewish‐Israeli participants reveal an interactive effect of exposure to conflict‐related violence and political ideology on intergroup empathy. In Study 1, high (vs. low) exposure to conflict‐related violence was associated with decreased empathy among rightists—but increased empathy among leftists—towards individual outgroup members. In Study 2, political ideology also moderated the exposure‐empathy relationship: Bereaved (vs. non‐bereaved) rightists exhibited significantly less intergroup empathy towards both an individual bereaved outgroup member and the outgroup as a whole, an effect not found among leftists. Study 3 revealed a similar, albeit marginally significant, interactive effect of exposure to conflict‐related violence and political ideology on empathy towards individuals living in a different violent conflict. Finally, an internal meta‐analysis provided further, more robust evidence for these effects. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of the findings and suggest future directions for research on this important issue.