Associate Professor
Melody CHAO
Associate Professor
mchao@ust.hk
CV
Melody CHAO

Research Interests

  • Globalization; Multicultural psychology
  • Organizational behavior; Normative judgments
  • Group processes and intergroup relations

Academic Qualifications

  • Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Social Psychology
  • M.A. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Social Psychology
  • B.A. University of California, Berkeley, Psychology

Academic And Professional Experience

  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Department of Management, Associate Professor, since July 2015; Assistant Professor, July 2009 - June 2015.

  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, School of Business and Management, Associate Director (Undergraduate Programs), since July 2018.

  • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, School of Business and Management, Academic Director (MSc in Family Office and Family Business), since July 2024.

Publications

Refereed Journal Publications (Chronological, alphabetical)

  • Chao, M. M. 2025. Advancing our understanding of cultural competence: An affective learning processes (ALPs) model. Psychological Inquiry, 36: 159–179. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2025.2525678

  • Chao, M. M., Huang, A. H., Mukhopadhyay, A., & Shon, J. 2025. Divergent effects of mindsets on performance trajectories. npj Science of Learning, 10. 64. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00355-w

  • Chao, M. M., Tadmor, C. T., & Bai, Y. 2025. Bridging disciplines, bridging minds: Extending the affective learning processes (ALPs) model of cultural competence. Psychological Inquiry, 36: 219–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2025.2538919

  • Zhang, R., Chao, M.M., Cho, J., Morris, M.W., & Cai, L.Y. 2025(accepted). Appropriate or appropriative? Diversity ideologies, judgment factors, and condemnation of cultural appropriation. Frontiers in Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsps.2025.1477434

  • Choi, J., & Chao, M. M. 2024. For me or against me?: Reactions to AI (vs. Human) decisions that are favorable or unfavorable to the self and the role of fairness perception. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672241288338

    • Winner of the 3MT® Competition (Three Minute Thesis Competition) of the International Association of Conflict Management 2022

  • Uskul, A.K., Thalmayer, A.G., Bernardo, A.B.I, González, R., Kende, A., Laher, S., Lášticová, B., Saab, R., Salas, G., Singh, P., Zeinoun, P., Norenzayan, A., Chao, M. M., Shoda, Y., & Cooper, M.L. 2024. Challenges and opportunities for psychological research in the majority world. Collabra. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.123703

  • Yang, Z. (R.), Kung, F. Y. H., Brienza, J. P., & Chao, M. M. 2024. Bridging social divides: The role of wise reasoning in improving intergroup relations. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 10: 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1037/tps0000389

  • Magni, F., Park, J., & Chao, M.M. 2023. Humans as creativity Gatekeepers: Are we biased against AI creativity. Journal of Business and Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-023-09910-x

  • Harjani, T., He, H., & Chao, M.M. 2023. The moral foundation of vaccine passports. Journal of Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-05427-8

  • Kung, Y.H.F., Brienza, J.P., & Chao, M.M. 2023. Mixed reactions to multicultural (vs. colorblind) diversity approach signals: A lay theories of culture perspective. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 29: 162-178. https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000409

  • Lee, S.S. & Chao, M.M. 2023. Employee Psychological Wellbeing in the Face of Pandemic: The Role of Belief in Work Priority. Social Personality and Psychology Compass, e12846. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12846

  • Noor, M., Chao, M. M., & Doosje, B. 2023. To forgive or not to forgive: Perceived motives shape individuals’ forgiveness of transgressing organizations. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 72: 1160-1180. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12428

  • Lee, S.S. & Chao, M.M., & He, H. 2022. When family interrupted Work: The implications of gendered role perception in the face of COVID-19. Journal of Social Issues. Special Issue: Magnifying Inequity: Women’s Lives during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic Women and Work, Children and Family Roles, 79: 861-877. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12504

  • Lian, H., Huai, M., Farh, J. L., Huang, J. C., Lee, C., & Chao, M. M. 2022. Leader unethical pro-organizational behavior and employee unethical conduct: Social learning of moral disengagement as a behavioral principle. Journal of Management 48: 350-379. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320959699

  • Park, J., Choi, Y., Chao, M.M., Beejinkhuu, U., & Sohn, Y.W. 2021. A cultural orientation approach to work orientation: Mongolian workers’ jobs, careers, and callings. Journal of Career Development, 49: 1351-1366. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453211040811

  • Brienza, J., Kung, F., & Chao, M.M. 2021. Wise reasoning, intergroup positivity, and attitude polarization across contexts. Nature Communications, 12: 3313. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23432-1

  • Magni, F., Gong, Y., & Chao, M.M. 2021. A longitudinal examination of the reciprocal relationship between goal orientation and performance: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Personality and Individual Differences, 179: 110960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110960

  • Van Assche, J., Moor, M., Dierckx, K., Saleem, M., Bouchat, P., De Guissme, L., Bostyn, D., Carew, M., Ernst-Vintila, A., & Chao, M.M. 2020. Can psychological interventions improve intergroup attitudes post terror attacks? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11: 1101-1109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550619896139

  • Fong, L.H.N., He, H., Chao, M.M., Leandro, G., & King, D. 2019. Cultural essentialism and tailored hotel service. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31: 3610-3626. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-11-2018-0910

  • He, H., Chao, M.M., & Zhu, W. 2019. Cause-related marketing and employee engagement: The roles of follower implicit morality beliefs, moral identity, and admiration. Journal of Business Research, 95, 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.10.013

  • Kung, F.Y.H., & Chao, M.M. 2019. The impact of mixed emotions on creativity in negotiation: An interpersonal perspective. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02660

  • Yao, J.D., Chao, M.M., & Leung, A.K. 2019. When essentialism facilitates intergroup conflict resolution: The positive role of perspective-taking. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022119835058

  • Yao, J.D., & Chao, M.M. 2019. When forgiveness signals power: Effects of forgiveness expression and forgiver gender. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45, 310-324. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218784904

  • Kung, F.Y.H., Chao, M.M., Yao, D.J., Adair, W.L., Fu, J.H., & Tasa, K. 2018. Bridging racial divides: Social constructionist (vs. essentialist) beliefs facilitate trust in intergroup contexts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 74: 121-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2017.09.008

  • Tadmor, C. T., Hong, Y. Y., Chao, M. M., & Cohen, A. 2018. The tolerance benefits of multicultural experiences depend on the perception of available mental resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115: 398–426. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000125

  • Chao, M.M.#, Visaria, S.#, Mukhopadhyay, A., & Dehejia, R. 2017. Do rewards reinforce the growth mindset?: Joint effects of the growth mindset and incentive schemes in a field intervention. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 146: 1402-1419. (# Equal contribution) https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000355

  • Zhang, Z., Wei, X., Chao, M.M., & Zheng, Y. 2017. When do conflicts feel right for prevention-focused individuals? The debiasing effect of low need for closure. Management and Organization Review, 13:375-397. https://doi.org/10.1017/mor.2017.7

  • Chao, M.M., Takeuchi, R., & Farh, J.L. 2017. Enhancing cultural intelligence: The roles of implicit culture beliefs and adjustment. Personnel Psychology 70: 257-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/peps.12142

  • Visaria, S., Dehejia, R., Chao, M.M., & Mukhopadhyay, A. 2016. Unintended negative consequences of rewards for student effort: Results from a field experiment in Indian classrooms. Economics of Education Review, 54: 173-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2016.08.001

  • Chao, M.M., Kung, F.Y.H., & Yao, D. 2015. Understanding the divergent effects of multicultural exposure. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 47: 78-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.03.032

  • Feldman, G., Chao, M.M., Farh, J., & Bardi, A. 2015. The motivation and inhibition of breaking the rules: Personal values structures predict unethicality. Journal of Research in Personality, 59: 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2015.09.003

  • Zhu, W., He, H., Trevino, L., Chao, M.M., Wang, W., & Liu, S. 2015. Ethical leadership and follower voice and performance: The role of follower identifications and entity Morality Beliefs. Leadership Quarterly, 26: 702-718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.01.004

  • Chao, M.M., & Kung, F.Y.H. 2015. An essentialism perspective of intercultural processes. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 18: 91-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajsp.12089

  • Chao, M. M., & Wong, J.K.W. 2014. Culture and everyday sense-making. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 17: 112-114. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajsp.12049

Book Chapters

  • Chao, M. M. 2023. Chapter 10: Individual behavior in a multicultural context. In Z.-x. Zhang, R.-t. Jing, & W. Shen (Eds.), Organizational Management: A Perspective of Chinese Enterprises in the Age of Digital Intelligence: 197-216. Peking University Press. (In Chinese)

  • Chao, M. M., Maitner, A. T., & Kung, F. Y. H. 2023. Cultural intelligence from an intergroup perspective. In D. C. Thomas & Y. Liao (Eds.), Handbook of Cultural Intelligence Research: 379-396. Springer Press. Edward Elgar Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800887169

More Publications

Selected Recent Conference Presentations

  • Chao, M.M. 2025. Rethinking cultural competence: An affective learning processes (ALPs) model. Symposium presentation at the 16th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  • Chen, A., & Chao, M.M. 2025. Understanding the effort mindsets: The effect of (fruitless) effort investment on performance evaluation. Symposium presentation at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Cho, J., Chao, M.M., & Morris, M. 2025. The fate of cultural borrowing: Diversity ideologies and accusation of cultural appropriation. Symposium presentation at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Choi, J., Li, M., Bitterly, T.B., & Chao, M.M. 2025. When expectations shatter: Investigating integrity erosion in human (vs. AI) after trust violations. Symposium presentation at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Paper presentation at the 38th Annual Conference of International Association for Conflict Management, Burlington, Vermont, USA.

  • Cho, J., Chao, M.M., Morris, M., Savani, K., & Choi, J. (2025, June). From cultural borrowing to cultural appropriation: The role of diversity ideologies. Symposium presentation at 2025 International Academy for Intercultural Research (IAIR) and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP) Joint Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

  • Chao, M.M. (2025, May). Advancing our understanding of cultural competence. Symposium presentation at the 22nd European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology, Prague, Czech Republic.

  • Cai, Y. L., & Chao, M.M. (2024, August). Examining the comparative benefits of writing interventions on well-being. Symposium presentation at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL, USA.

  • Choi, J., & Chao, M.M. (2024, August). For Me or Against Me?: Reactions to AI (vs. Human) Decisions and the Role of Fairness Perceptions. Symposium presentation at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL, USA.

  • Yang, Z. R., Kung, F. Y. H., & Chao, M.M. 2024. Wise reasoning and subjective values in conflict communication. Symposium presentation at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL, USA.

  • Cho, J., Chao, M.M., Zhang, R., & Morris, M.W. 2024. Political orientations and judgments of cultural borrowing: The role of moral foundations. Asian Association of Social Psychology Special Symposium presentation at the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Bali, Indonesia.

  • Magni, F., Kerekes, M., Tang, G., Park, J., & Chao, M.M. 2024. Threatened by AI creativity? The chain effect of producer identity as AI on creativity evaluations and willingness to pay

    . Paper presentation at the 40th European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, Milan, Italy.

     

  • Chao, M.M., Nanakdewa, K., & Savani, K. 2024. Refocusing the conceptualization of the colorblind ideology: Implications for hiring bias in ethnicity-salient and nationality-salient contexts. Presented at Rapid Fire Talk at Diversity in Management and Organizations (DMO) 2024 conference, Singapore.

  • Magni, F., Kerekes, M., Tang, G., Park, J., & Chao, M.M. 2024. Threatened by AI? The chain effect of AI as producer on creativity evaluations and willingness to pay. Paper presentation at the ESSEC’s Experimental and Behavioral Workshop, Cergy, France.

  • Cai, Y., Choi, J., Chao, M.M. 2023. Understanding dispute resolution practices in a multicultural world. Symposium presentation at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Boston, MA, USA.

  • Magni, F., Park, J., & Chao, M.M. 2023. Humans as creativity gatekeepers: Are we biased against AI creativity. Symposium presentation at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Boston, MA, USA.

  • Chao, M.M., & Lam, E. 2023. From mindset to cultural competence: Understanding the effects of intervention and its boundary conditions. Symposium presentation at the 21st European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, Katowice, Poland.

  • Tadmor, C., Chao, M.M., & Hong, Y. 2022. Reasoning wisely to restore the intergroup tolerance benefits of multicultural experience in the heat of armed conflict, social unrests, and a pandemic. Symposium presentation at the 35th Annual International Association for Conflict Management, Ottawa, Canada.

  • Cho, J., Chao, M.M., Zhang, R., & Morris, M.W. 2022. Liberals and conservatives in the United States differently judge cultural appropriation. Paper presentation at the 2022 Berkeley Culture Conference, Berkeley, CA, USA.

  • Lee, S.J., Chao, M.M., He, H. 2021. Addressing the gender pay gap: The role of pay gap framing and causal attributions. Paper presentation at the 3rd International Human Resource Management Conference, Online.

  • Pan, X., Choi, J. & Chao, M.M. 2021. The impact of perceiving AI as a threat on prosocial behavior. Paper presentation at the 3rd International Human Resource Management Conference, Online.

  • Chao, M.M. 2021. Wisdom and cultural diversity: beyond cultural stereotypes and culture-blindness. Discussant. Panel Discussion at the 2021 International Wisdom Summit, Online.

  • Chau, M., Chao, M.M., & Liu, W. 2021. Detecting emotional distress from text. Emergent Research Forum presentation at the Annual Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Online.

  • Magni, F., Park, J., & Chao, M.M. 2021. The bias in creativity evaluation of artificial intelligence. Paper presentation at the Virtual 81st Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Online.

  • Tadmor, C., Chao, M.M., & Hong, Y. 2021. The effects of multicultural experience on social tolerance during times of crisis. Symposium presentation at the Virtual 81st Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Online.

  • Chao, M.M., Luk, C. T., Fu, H., & Hui, P. 2021. Cross-country scale invariance of Hostede’s values, implicit culture belief, and need for closure. Paper presentation at the 25th International Congress of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Online.

  • Fu, H., Chao, M. M., & Hui, P. 2021. Forestalling the inevitable? Belief in conflict inevitability and dispute resolution system adoption. Paper presentation at the 32rd International Congress of Psychology, Prague, Czech Republic.

  • Chao, M.M. 2021. Experimental research in IM. Panel Presentation at the Academy of International Business Conference, Online.

  • Fu, H., Chao, M.M., & Hui, P. 2020. Implicit belief of conflict and adoption of dispute resolution system. Paper presentation at 2020 Academy of International Business Southeast Asian Regional Conference. Online.

  • Magni, F., Chao, M.M., & Park, J. 2020. Creativity evaluation of artificial intelligence products. Paper presentation at the 36th European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, Hamburg, Germany.

Review Activities

  • Associate Editor

    • Journal of Business Research (2020 - 2022)

    • Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (2020 - 2021)

  • Member of Editorial Board:

    • Personality and Social Psychology Review (2022 - present)

    • Personnel Psychology (2019 - present)

  • Ad Hoc Reviewer (selected)

    • Academy of Management Journal

    • Applied Psychology: An International Review

    • Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology

    • Developmental Psychology

    • Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology

    • Journal of Experimental Social Psychology

    • Journal of Personality

    • Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

    • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

    • PlosOne

    • Psychology Bulletin

    • Social Psychological and Personality Science

  • Grant review

    • National Science Foundation, USA

    • Ministry of Education, Social Science Research Thematic Grant, Singapore

    • University of Macau Multi-Year Research Grant, Macau

Funded Projects

Research Grants

  • Promoting Well-being in the Community through Writing Interventions: The role of emotion beliefs and work ideology (2022-2026). Funded by Center for Aging Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Role: Principal Investigator (HK$883,350).

  • Understanding Dispute Resolution Practices in Emerging Economies (2018-2020). Funded by Institute of Emerging Market Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Role: Principal Investigator (HK$300,000).

  • A wise reasoning perspective to intergroup relations (2017-2020). Funded by Research Grants Council General Research Fund, Hong Kong SAR Government. Role: Principal Investigator (HK$773,500).

  • Negotiating Across Cultural Boundaries: The Roles of Essentialist Beliefs and Social Identity (2014-2017). Funded by Research Grants Council General Research Fund, Hong Kong SAR Government. Role: Principal Investigator (HK$497,000).

Teaching Grants

  • Ethics education among HKUST Business School Undergraduate (2013-2015). Funded by Center for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (CELT), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Role: Project leader (HK$200,000).

Honors And Awards

  • 2021. Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Fellow

  • 2020. Association for Psychological Science (APS) Fellow

  • 2014. The Seisoh Sukemune/Bruce Bain Encouragement of Early Career Research Award by International Council of Psychologists.

  • 2013. The Michael Harris Bond Award for Early Research Contributions by Asian Association of Social Psychology.

  • 2013. Early Career Award by International Academy of Intercultural Research.