Feeling capable and valued: A prosocial perspective on the link between empathy and social entrepreneurial intentions

Sophie Bacq and Elisa Alt

Journal of Business Venturing, 2018, vol. 33, issue 3, 333-350

Abstract: Empathy is a key trait distinguishing social entrepreneurs from traditional entrepreneurs, and an important antecedent of social entrepreneurial (SE) intentions. Yet, little research explains the mechanisms through which empathy motivates SE intentions. We argue that studying the link between the prosocial trait of empathy and the prosocial outcome of SE intentions requires a prosocial lens that traditional entrepreneurial intent theories cannot offer. Building on prosocial motives research, we propose that empathy explains SE intentions through two complementary mechanisms: self-efficacy (an agentic mechanism), and social worth (a communal mechanism). We find support for our hypotheses in a study of 281 university students.

Keywords: Dispositional empathy; Entrepreneurial intentions; Self-efficacy; Social entrepreneurship; Social worth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (84)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:33:y:2018:i:3:p:333-350

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2018.01.004

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