A biosocial model of entrepreneurship: the combined effects of nurture and nature |
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| Authors: | Roderick E White Stewart Thornhill Elizabeth Hampson |
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| Institution: | 1. Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada;2. Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Why do people get involved in the creation of new ventures? Prior research suggests entrepreneurial behavior has multiple causes. Nurture explanations; often couched in terms of sociological theories like social learning have been popular. Aspects of nascent entrepreneurs' social contexts, notably their family business background, have been associated with new venture creation. But nature also appears to play a role. Other research has linked heritable biological factors, including testosterone, with the career choice to launch a new venture. This study presents theory and evidence linking the combination of both sociological and biological factors with new venture creation: a biosocial model of entrepreneurship. Empirical results indicate new venture creation is more likely among those individuals having a higher testosterone level in combination with a family business background. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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