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

Bacq, Sophie and Alt, Elisa (2018) Feeling capable and valued: A prosocial perspective on the link between empathy and social entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 33 (3). pp. 333-350. ISSN 0883-9026

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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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Dispositional empathy, Entrepreneurial intentions, Self-efficacy, Social entrepreneurship, Social worth
Faculty:	ARCHIVED Lord Ashcroft International Business School (until September 2018)
Depositing User:	Dr Elisa Alt
Date Deposited:	25 Apr 2018 14:22
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2021 18:57
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/702953

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