This paper presents a model of cross-cultural negotiations which describes
how the affect negotiators experience during negotiations influences the ch
aracter of the negotiation process and its outcomes. Three categories of de
terminants of negotiator affect are proposed: Individual differences, cross
-cultural differences, and contextual factors. The ways in which negotiator
affect influences information processing during negotiations are then desc
ribed. It is suggested that the influence of affect, through substantive in
formation processing, may lead to either positive or negative Spirals in ne
gotiations, influencing the ability of negotiators to reach an integrative
solution. Finally, the ways in which negotiators can break out of destructi
ve negative spirals by engaging in motivated rather than substantive inform
ation processing are discussed.