Group acceptance of foreign newcomer: A liability of foreignness perspective

Liability of foreignness (LOF) has been examined extensively at the organizational level. However, this phenomenon has not received much attention at the individual level. I address this gap in the literature by developing the concept of individual LOF and identifying its various sources. I examine individual LOF experienced by a foreign newcomer joining a local group. A newcomer from a different culture experiences difficulty in gaining group acceptance in a local workgroup because of the liabilities associated with his/her foreignness. I conceptualize group acceptance as having two components---task-based acceptance and relationship-based acceptance. Drawing from the sources of LOF, I propose some remedies that may minimize the effect of individual LOF and help a foreign newcomer gain group acceptance. I draw from social identity theory and acculturation theory to explain the underlying mechanisms.; I hypothesize that a newcomer's socially attractive behaviors, cultural similarity between newcomer and group, and the newcomer's cultural intelligence will affect group acceptance. Moreover, the relationships between newcomer's behavior and group acceptance will be moderated by the group's perception of the sincerity of such behavior as well as the group's culture on the individualism dimension.; My regression analysis indicated the following results. There was mixed support for the effect of information-seeking behavior on task-based group acceptance. However, both information-seeking behavior and conformity to norms were found to have a positive influence on relationship-based group acceptance. There was no support for the moderating effects of perceived sincerity on the relationships between information-seeking behavior and group acceptances. The moderating effect of perceived sincerity on the impact of conformity to norms on relationship-based group acceptance was supported. There was evidence of the moderating effect of individualism on the relationship between information-seeking behavior and task-based acceptance. However, there was a lack of support for the moderating effect of individualism on the relationships between socially attractive behaviors and relationship-based acceptance. There were strong supports for the effects of cultural similarity and newcomer's reputation on relationship-based group acceptance, although the moderating effect of newcomer's prior cross-cultural experience failed to explain any additional variance, thereby being excluded from the result. These results have significant theoretical and practical implications.