Does Congruence with an Entrepreneur Social Identity Encourage Positive Emotion Under Environmental Dynamism?

Abstract

Entrepreneurial identities and emotions can have profound effects on entrepreneurs. We examine how positive emotion (PE) among entrepreneurs may be influenced by the congruence they experience between their self‐concept and the entrepreneur social identity. Given that uncertainty in the business environment can exert powerful effects throughout the entrepreneurial process, we further test the moderating impact of environmental dynamism on the relationship between identity congruence and PE. Results from a study of 175 entrepreneurs indicate that entrepreneurs experiencing greater congruence have higher levels of PE, and that this relationship is stronger in more dynamic environments.

Notes

1. Given our definition of the entrepreneur as someone tied to creating and founding new organizations, we use the terms “entrepreneur” and “founder” interchangeably.

2. We acknowledge that emotions are different from moods because the former tend to be shorter in duration, more intense, and have definitive targets (Beedie, Terry, and Lane 2005; Kelly and Barsade, 2001). Although emotions and moods originate in different biological pathways, Baron (2008) emphasizes that both tend to produce parallel effects.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Charles Y. Murnieks

Charles Y. Murnieks is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Oregon State University.

Jeffery S. Mcmullen

Jeffery S. McMullen is Dale M. Coleman Chair in Management and Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Melissa S. Cardon

Melissa S. Cardon is Professor of Management at the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.