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.