At the heart of Emily’s research is emotions, particularly the ways in which they form the vibrant palette with which we paint the tapestry of human sociality. She regards emotions as more than mere ephemeral states; rather, they are the currency of collaborations, the foundation of trust, the cornerstone of effective leadership, and more.
Dissertation: Emotional Whiplash
Title: Up, down, and all around: Emotional whiplash and its effects on interpersonal trust and relationships at work
Abstract: Although core theories underscore the temporal and interpersonal aspects of emotions, such theoretical models are currently insufficient to understand how the temporal and interpersonal natures of emotions interact with one another. How might different interpersonal interactions precipitate one’s emotional dynamism? How might the temporal flow of emotions within an individual impact the interpersonal functioning in relationships between individuals? Accordingly, my dissertation utilizes mixed-methods, combining inductive and deductive empirical research to pioneer and test theory on the phenomenon of emotional whiplash—including its triggers, experience, expressions, and subsequent outcomes—and, more broadly, interpersonal emotion dynamics at work. To develop my theoretical models around the experience and expression of emotional whiplash, I also employ an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on research from communications (e.g., expectancy violations theory), social psychology (e.g., attribution theory, emotions as social information model), and management (e.g., affective events theory). By integrating the temporal and interpersonal aspects of emotions, I advance knowledge on how and why relationships at work may strengthen or disintegrate over the course of an interaction, as well as enrich the burgeoning research that explores trust beyond static and rational models.
*Awarded Best Paper by AOM Annual Meeting OB Division (2025)
Additional research in progress
Hsu, E. & Antoine, G. E. Workplace shaming behavior. (finalizing manuscript, target: Academy of Management Review)
Hsu, E. & Strachan, M. J. Nostalgia in crisis management. (analyzing archival data)
Lee, J. I. & Hsu, E. Fresh starts, emotions, and trust repair. (developing theory and study designs)
In addition to emotions, Emily’s research examines the interpersonal relationships and interactions between individuals within an organization. As organizations increasingly prioritize team-based work structures and cross-functional projects, facilitating effective interpersonal interactions becomes ever critical. Interpersonal relationships are the lifeblood of any workplace, shaping everything from team collaboration to leader performance, and emotions are often a driving force behind the scenes. Whether in one-on-one meetings or large-scale projects, the emotional undertones of interpersonal interactions have a profound impact on workplace relationships and overall organizational success.
Hsu, E.*, Jurkiewicz, O.*, Gu, Y., Jamieson, J., & Oveis, C. Emotion co-regulation and stress. (revising manuscript, target: Personnel Psychology; *co-first authorship)
Hsu, E., Liang, A. X., & Zhang, J. CEOs, transgressions, and employee activism. (analyzing data)
Recognizing that the world of work is in a new era of transformations, Emily also researches how employees and organizations are or have been impacted emotionally, motivationally, or behaviorally by rapid technological advancements, evolving employee expectations, and unprecedented global challenges.
- Hsu, E. Virtual affective convergence. (conducting additional analyses)
*Buchan Prize Winner (Behavioral Area), Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis (2024)
- Winchester, C. C., Hsu, E., Campbell, E. M., & Call, M. L. (2025) Underperformance by design: A scoping review and research agenda of intentional task underperformance at work. Journal of Management. Advanced Online Publication.
- Winchester, C. C., Hsu, E., Campbell, E. M., & Rogers, K. M. Intentionally underperforming. (under review, Journal of Applied Psychology)
- Huang, H. C., Hsu, E., & Baer, M. AI adoption and creativity. (1st round R&R, Journal of Applied Psychology)
*Finalist for Best PhD Paper Award, Artificial Intelligence in Management (AIM) Conference (2025)
Emily Hsu 