Power distance is “the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and
organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed” (Hofstede,
1997, p. 28). In low power distance countries, the authority is distributed within the
organization. Superiors are dependent on subordinates as consultation on a limited
extent. Therefore the emotional distance between them is relatively small: it is quite
easy and pleasant for subordinates to approach and contact their superiors. However,
in high power distance countries, power is always centralized within the organization.
Only a considerable dependence exists from subordinators to superiors. “Subordinates
respond by either preferring such dependence, or rejecting it entirely, which in
psychology is known as “counterdependence”: that is dependence, but in a negative
sign” (ibid, p.27). High power distance countries thus show a pattern of polarization
between dependence and counterdenpendence (ibid).