19449: Examining Attraction & Repulsion Between Harmonious and Obsessive Entrepreneurial Passion (session 26106)

Monday, July 28, 2025

17:15 - 18:45 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall B- B3-m1

Session Type: Paper Session
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/qdkQvL

Author(s)

CM

Charles Murnieks

U. of Missouri, Kansas City, United States
BA

Brian S. Anderson

University of Kansas, United States
JH

Jeffrey S. Hornsby

U. of Missouri, Kansas City, United States
DC

Daniel A. Cohen

Wake Forest University, United States

We investigate the influence of harmonious and obsessive entrepreneurial passion on different stakeholders in the venture environment. Across a series of six experiments and think-aloud protocols, we find that entrepreneurs who exhibit harmonious entrepreneurial passion (HmEP) are more attractive to prospective employees than entrepreneurs who exhibit obsessive entrepreneurial passion (ObEP). However, we find the inverse of this pattern for prospective investors—investors find entrepreneurs who exhibit ObEP more attractive than those who exhibit HmEP. Our findings highlight the difficulties entrepreneurs face navigating differing expectations of key stakeholder groups in the formative period of a new venture.

view paper (if available)