Entrepreneurs navigate a spectrum of behaviors, from rational to disinhibited actions. While prior research often attributes disinhibition to neurodiverse traits like ADHD, this study investigates when entrepreneurs, beyond trait-based predispositions, engage in disinhibited behavior. Drawing on tension literature and Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT), we analyzed 316 tension episodes from in-depth interviews with 18 biotech and health entrepreneurs. Our findings reveal that cognitive dissonance drives disinhibited, high-risk actions aimed at resolving internal discomfort, whereas external tensions promote rational, strategic responses. These insights refine the construct of disinhibited behavior, highlighting its situational and emotional nature. Furthermore, situational tension emerges as a critical trigger for entrepreneurial action, expanding existing typologies by introducing a tension-resolution action logic that bridges disinhibition and rationality.
