Navigating cultural dissonance: the mediating role of emotional intelligence in collectivist adaptation to individualistic societies

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore individual workers’ interactions with culture dimensions of the society that surrounds them as they perform daily work. In many contexts, there are significant differences between the larger society and individual subcultures. For example, collectivist subcultures living within the otherwise individualistic society found in the USA create a dynamic environment ripe for emotion. The question becomes: how can workers navigate this interaction between subculture and the dominant cultural traits to ultimately find positive organizational outcomes? Design/methodology/approach – This research uses a quantitative survey among 189 US-based workers claiming to be part of a collectivist subculture. A mediated model connecting collectivism, emotional intelligence (EI) and positive workplace outcomes (i.e. grit, resilience, affective commitment, sense of place commitment) is tested via the Hayes PROCESS methodology, allowing for direct and indirect effects results. Findings – The results confirmed the mediated relationship between collectivism, EI and each of the positive outcomes hypothesized within the research model. The findings suggest that collectivists living within an individualistic society leverage EI as an important tool to translate their collectivist ideals into grit, resilience, organizational commitment and sense of place. Collectivist individuals can apply affective strategies for success in individualistic workplaces. Originality/value – This study contributes new insights to the ongoing research on cultural identity, EI and workplace outcomes by demonstrating how collectivist subgroups within a predominantly individualistic society leverage EI to foster grit, resilience, affective organizational commitment and sense of place commitment. This research enters an unexplored line of investigation by positing that emotional abilities translate collectivist ideals into positive workplace outcomes, which has no existing theoretical underpinning to date.