It's personal: The emotional dimension of psychic distance perception in intercultural knowledge transfer

Qiu Wang, Jeremy Clegg, Hanna Gajewska De Mattos, Peter J. Buckley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Psychic distance (PD) is a perceived obstacle to information flows in knowledge transfer between individuals in different national markets. However, the impact of individuals’ subjective perceptions of macro-level distance factors disrupting these flows has been undertheorized. Prior research has conceptualized PD as a geospatial concept – symmetric, continuous and stable over time. Using appraisal theory and a qualitative study of a Chinese multinational, we analyse individual-level psychic distance stimuli. We examine how perceived psychic distance is impacted in the appraisal of personal concerns, triggering salient emotions in the process of individual's cross-border interactions. Our key contribution is to trace and explain how individual-level psychic distance is created in intercultural knowledge transfer. We theorize that it is created by a psychological mechanism involving emotionally charged processes of individuals coping with concerns arising from emotional encounter. We find that conventional macro-level psychic distance is moderated by the emotions of individuals.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102167
Number of pages21
JournalInternational Business Review
Volume32
Issue number5
Early online date22 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2023

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