Intractable intergroup conflicts are one of the most serious challenges humanity is facing.

Therefore, scientific research has devoted much attention to conflict resolution. However, despite the intense negative emotions that such conflicts elicit, only recently have researchers begun to explore the regulation of emotional experiences as an aspect that may promote our understanding of a conflicts’ waves of escalation and de-escalation (Halperin, Pliskin, Saguy, Liberman, & Gross, 2014). Empirical research has so far focused on one single emotion regulation strategy, namely, emotional distancing (ED; for a summary see Gross, Halperin, & Porat, 2013; Halperin, 2016). Evidence regarding the impact of ED in intergroup conflict is mixed: it reduces negative emotions and increases hope with regard to the development of the conflict (Halperin et al., 2013; Halperin & Gross, 2011). However, ED does not influence empathy towards members of the out group (Halperin & Gross, 2011). This is problematic, as empathy has a particularly strong potential to facilitate positive behavior towards members of other groups including reconciliation (Eisenberg, Eggum, & Di Giunta, 2010). This likely applies specifically to out group members in need (e.g., Palestinian civilians in the Middle East conflict)and less so to out group members escalating the conflict (e.g., Palestinian terrorists).In other words, regulating intergroup emotions seems to have a high potential for fostering reconciliation in intergroup conflicts. Therefore, the proposed research focuses on a different emotion regulation strategy that has been shown to affect empathy in interpersonal relations (Roth & Assor, 2012; Benita,Levkovitz, & Roth, 2017) and thus has a high potential to also exert positive effects in intergroupconflicts, including eliciting intergroup empathy, namely integrative emotion regulation (IER;Benita et al., 2017; Roth et al., 2014; Ryan, Deci,Grolnick, & La Guardia., 2006).At a theoretical level, IER relies on the Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan,2008) conception of adaptive emotion regulation. This conception posits that IER is an adaptive form of emotion regulation that involves (a) a differentiated awareness of one's emotional state sand (b) a striving to understand them in the light of one’s goals (Roth et al., 2009; 2014; Ryan etal., 2006). The impact of IER has not been studied in the context of intergroup conflicts so far(except for some preliminary research conducted in preparation of this proposal; Roth, Shane, &Kanat-Maymon, in press). Hence, the main research question to be testedin the currently proposed series of studies is whether the situational or chronic inclination to take interest in one’s own personal negative emotional experiences and to openly explore their source (i.e., an integrative style of emotion regulation) may be linked to empathy with other’s adversities and thus may contribute to the resolution of intergroup conflicts.

The proposed project aims to address this question by: (a) testing the relation between IER and support for reconciliation with out group members in intense conflict, (b) testing whetherthe relation between IER and support for conciliatory policies is mediated by empathy, (c)testing whether the relation between IER and support for conciliatory policies is mediated by complexity of the epresentation of the out group, and (d) by finally testing whether the internal motivation to behave unprejudiced moderates the difference between IER and ED. To enhance empirical scrutiny of intergroup strife within its unique political and social context, the proposed research includes one longitudinal study and a series of experiments that will be conduct edregarding two real-world intergroup relations: The Middle East conflict and the German-refugee relationship. The Middle East conflict between Israel and the Palestinians – one of the world’s most acute, intractable, and violent conflicts – is highly charged and long lasting. The relationship between German citizens and migrants, in particular recent incoming refugees, is less heated and much newer, but it became more and more conflictual in the light of the terrorist attacks in Germany and neighboring countries. Testing the hypotheses in these two intergroup relations enhances the generalizability of the research findings.