Research seminar: Assistant Professor Max Reinwald

Join us in welcoming Assistant Professor Max Reinwald from the University of Mannheim to Trinity Business School on Thursday, 27th of February 2025.

Please REGISTER HERE.

Seminar Title: The Elephant and Donkey in the Room: Political Dissimilarity at Work during Elections

Abstract: Dissimilarity research has paid little attention to the consequences of political dissimilarity in the workplace. This oversight seems surprising, given the polarized political landscapes in many Western societies that may significantly alter organizational behavior. We draw on the social identity approach and cognitive theories of threat processing to understand how an individual’s political dissimilarity from co-workers dynamically affects perceptions of work relationships and behavior in an election period. In Study 1, we conducted an experience sampling field study during the 2020 United States presidential election and found that an individual’s political dissimilarity had no significant impact on the negative interpersonal interactions at work before the election day. However, the effect became significant on election day and remained present for the observed post-election period of six days. In Study 2, we conducted a between-person online simulation-based experiment that leveraged the 2022 United States midterm elections as an election treatment. We further replicated and extended our findings in a longitudinal experimental study over four consecutive weeks during the 2024 United States presidential elections. Our findings demonstrate a relatively stable indirect effect of political dissimilarity on negative interpersonal interaction through reduced social mindfulness in the election phase but not in the pre-election phase. Our findings reveal political orientation as a critical but underexplored dimension of workplace dissimilarity that, while perhaps generally more benign, becomes salient with macro-political events.

Bio: Max Reinwald is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Mannheim, Germany. His research focuses on diversity and inclusion, responsible leadership, and change management. He has published in Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Human Relations, and Human Resource Management, among others.

Note: Tea/coffee and sandwiches will be served between 12:15 -1:15 pm at room 419 (TBS Boardroom).

Photographs will be taken during this seminar and may be shared on social media. If you do not wish to appear, please notify tbs.research@tcd.ie.