Extended Reality, Expanded Empathy: A Psychological Distance Perspective for Designing XR-Based Empathy Training Interventions

Empathy is increasingly recognized as a core 21st-century skill essential for collaboration, inclusion, and organizational well-being. As modern information technology advances, extended reality (XR), including augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR) have witnessed an increasing use in training contexts. XR-based training offers unique potential to cultivate empathy by enabling experiential experiences structured around presence, immersion, and interactivity. Yet, the absence of structured frameworks limits the efficacy and scalability of XR-based empathy training. This paper presents a conceptual framework integrating narrative design elements (character, space, narrative), experiential dimensions (presence, immersion, interactivity), and Construal Level Theory (CLT) to guide the design and evaluation of empathy-enhancing XR interventions. The framework explains how XR can reduce social, spatial, temporal, and hypothetical distance to activate affective, cognitive, and behavioral empathy. To demonstrate practical applicability, we apply the framework to two illustrative cases, confirming its value for guiding XR scenario design and evaluation. We discuss implications for XR-based empathy training, empathy-centered organizational learning, and the integration of empathy as a measurable outcome, offering clear guidance for researchers, designers, HR professionals, and learning leaders.