No Words for Intergroup Feelings: Intergroup Empathy Mediates the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Intergroup Relations

Alexithymia is linked to poor interpersonal relations; less is known about its role in intergroup relations. We examined which of its facets predict negative intergroup relations, and whether dispositional and intergroup empathy mediate these associations. We also tested whether alexithymia is associated with general social impairment or disproportionately poorer intergroup relations relative to interpersonal relations. White British heterosexual men ( N = 302) participated in a preregistered cross‐sectional online survey on experiences with gay men. Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS‐20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), and dispositional and intergroup empathic concern (EC) and perspective‐taking (PT) were assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results first showed an intergroup bias: Individuals reported lower PT, greater affective prejudice, lower behavioral intentions, and lower self‐disclosure toward outgroup than ingroup members. Individuals higher on the alexithymia externally oriented thinking (EOT) facet rated both ingroup and outgroup members more negatively on affective prejudice, stereotypes, and behavioral intentions than individuals with lower alexithymia‐EOT. They also reported lower self‐disclosure in both interpersonal and intergroup relations. Finally, lower intergroup (but not trait) EC and PT mediated the negative relationship between alexithymia‐EOT and outgroup attitudes (affective, cognitive, behavioral), across both the TAS‐20 and PAQ. These findings suggest that alexithymia is linked to broader social difficulties, and highlight the importance of targeting intergroup empathy in efforts to reduce negative outgroup attitudes among individuals high in alexithymia‐EOT.