Observers’ gender and behavioral responses to workplace sexual harassment via empathy: The moderating role of organizational intolerance.

₂ = 341), women consistently exhibited higher empathy toward targets than men, which in turn predicted greater intervention intentions and behaviors. Women also engaged less in "not hearing" (Study 2) and reported lower intentions to "not hear" and "silence targets" (Study 3). However, this gendered pattern emerged only in organizations tolerant of sexual harassment. In highly intolerant organizations, both men and women reported greater empathy, intervened more, and exhibited less silence, eliminating the gender gap. Study 3 further strengthens our conclusion by showing that empathy explained gender differences in behavioral responses, regardless of observers' prior experiences as a target, gender similarity to the target or harasser, and beyond the influence of other emotional responses (i.e., anger, fear). Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).