The Development of Social or Economic Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Self-Actualization Perspective

Abstract

Entrepreneurship enables diverse paths to self-actualization through individual achievement, social impact, or community advancement. And although research has examined entrepreneurial motivations through either identity theory or self-actualization needs separately, their interaction in shaping venture choice remains unexplored. Through a survey of graduate students (N = 517), we find that self-actualization more strongly predicts social than economic entrepreneurial intentions. This relationship is amplified for individuals with Missionary identities but manifests differently for those with Communitarian identities, who pursue collective rather than individual forms of actualization. By integrating self-actualization theory with founder identity research, we demonstrate how identity orientation fundamentally shapes entrepreneurial motivation pathways, advancing our understanding of why entrepreneurs choose social versus economic ventures.